Qing Muling was initially unclear about Tang Ruoxuan’s insistence on meeting him, but now he felt that he should understand.
Indeed, what the envoy of the Dao Court said was true. But for now, the situation was not so serious. The protective measures taken by the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace for Qing Muling were effective.
As long as those forces did not rush into the main altar of the sect to snatch people, Qing Muling did not have to worry about his own safety. Even if they dared to come, they would probably not return. Were all those elders dead?
“I wonder what Senior Tang wants to say?”
Qing Muling lightly rubbed the jade bi in his hand, feeling even more wary of the Calamity Fate Palace. Whether they were overly suspicious or really had some extraordinary means, he tried to avoid contact with the people of this power until he grew up.
Tang Ruoxuan said gently, “I have no other intention. I just want to remind Junior Qing that the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace has indeed been good to you. However, the declining Supreme Dao Lineage no longer has the ability to protect you as it has suffered a great loss in high-end combat power.”
“At present, they may be able to ensure your safety for a while. However, it won’t be long before more major forces take notice of your existence, putting increasing pressure on the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. Especially those old guys from the Calamity Fate Palace, they are very likely to disregard face and personally take action against you.”
Regardless of which Dao Lineage or aristocratic family, there has always been only one attitude towards the genius seeds of other forces: to suppress them as much as possible and eliminate them when the opportunity arises, in order to prevent them from becoming a threat in the future. Even allies are no exception.
With the current situation of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, the sudden appearance of Xuebing Xuan and five other monstrous genius seeds, plus Qing Muling, has already aroused the high vigilance of the surrounding Supreme Dao Lineage forces.
If they do not take the opportunity now to find a way to eliminate the threat in advance, when these people grow into a major force in the future, it will be a matter of course for the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace to return to its peak. At that time, it will be the surrounding forces that will suffer.
Qing Muling looked calm. “So what?”
Tang Ruoxuan did not avoid his gaze and said sincerely, “If Junior Qing is willing, then the Dao Court will become your solid backing, providing you with all-round protection. Those forces will no longer be able to act recklessly and ignore the authority of the Dao Court.”
Qing Muling sighed. “In the end, Senior Tang’s intention is still to poach. I thought your relationship with the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was good, and you wouldn’t have such thoughts.”
Tang Ruoxuan said seriously, “Junior, you are mistaken. The Dao Court is recognized as the overlord of all righteous forces in the Great Void, and is not an enemy of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. In previous years, there were many genius seeds who, for various reasons, left their original sects and joined the Dao Court. For you, this is a reasonable and legitimate choice, not a betrayal of your sect.”
Qing Muling chuckled and said nothing.
The origin of the Dao Court is no secret. It was born over a million years ago, when the Great Void was constantly plagued by disasters and powerful extraterrestrial races invaded. Many famous ancient super Dao Lineages declined and even perished, and many powerful figures fell.
In order to seek strength in unity, resist calamities, mediate conflicts between different Dao Lineages, and prevent excessive internal strife among human cultivators in the Great Void, the Dao Court was born.
It was initially established by dozens of Supreme Dao Lineages, and then many large and small Dao Lineages and aristocratic families joined. After millions of years of development, it gradually became the recognized overlord of human cultivation in the Great Void.
Of course, only righteous forces could join the Dao Court. It was impossible for demonic or evil forces, let alone extraterrestrial forces, to join. After the Dao Court’s position was established, it often launched attacks against those demonic and evil forces, and it was common to go to war with powerful extraterrestrial races.
Now, the authority of the Dao Court is deeply rooted. Although it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of Supreme Dao Lineages, it can control life and death for ordinary medium and small Dao Lineage forces.
The early leaders of the Dao Court came from the elite figures of various Supreme Dao Lineages, and they were relatively fair in handling various matters. However, it gradually evolved into a new interest group, forgetting its original intention, and some dark secrets were exposed.
As for the attitude of the high-level figures of the various Supreme Dao Lineages towards the Dao Court, it was both utilitarian and defensive. When it was beneficial to their own side, they would use the Dao Court as a banner, and when it was not, they would make excuses. Of course, this was only when their important interests conflicted. For ordinary matters, these Supreme Dao Lineages did not mind giving face to the Dao Court.
However, the high-level figures of the Dao Court were not satisfied with just being the nominal overlord of human cultivation. They wanted to make it a reality, to completely unify human cultivation, then the demonic and evil forces, and then to rule over the extraterrestrial forces, making the entire Great Void the sphere of influence of the Dao Court.
Moreover, the successive rulers of the Dao Court had been quite effective in infiltrating the various Supreme Dao Lineages. Many grassroots geniuses who had been suppressed and marginalized by their original sects chose to join the Dao Court after it extended an olive branch. With the Dao Court’s own management skills, it had accumulated generations of elite talents, becoming the most powerful sanctuary in the human cultivation world, or the Supreme Dao Lineage.
“The style of the Dao Court’s actions and the attitude towards genius seeds, I believe Junior Qing has heard a lot about it before, so I won’t say more.”
Tang Ruoxuan took out a golden-purple jade token and a seven-treasure phoenix hairpin and placed them on the table, saying, “This matter is not urgent. Junior Qing can consider it slowly. This token was personally refined by an ancient powerhouse. In the future, if you encounter an insurmountable crisis, you can activate it to escape safely.”
“As for this hairpin, it is the personal belonging of Qinghuan Emperor. She has a daughter who is still unmarried, and in terms of talent and appearance, she is not inferior to any woman you have seen. As long as you are willing, you will be the princess’s husband in the future. This is the Dao Court’s sincere proof, and I hope Junior Qing will not refuse.”Qinghuan Emperor is one of the three strongest giants in the Dao Court. Her lifelong cultivation and supernatural powers are unfathomable. To be her son-in-law and hold onto her thigh is a dream for many elites in the Great Void Starry Sky.
Qing Muling remained silent for a while before continuing, “In that case, we’ll meet again in the future if fate allows.”
Tang Ruoxuan smiled casually, “Out of respect for Junior Brother Qing, the high-level members of the Dao Court will take care of matters related to the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace in the future. They will try not to give other forces the opportunity to cause trouble. If Junior Brother Qing has any requests, feel free to bring them up. Everything can be negotiated.”
With that, he bid farewell and left, his figure drifting away with the wind.
Shortly after, the figures of Xuebing Xuan and the other three women appeared, their expressions unfriendly. Every word of Tang Ruoxuan’s had fallen into their ears, and it was a wonder they could maintain a pleasant expression.
Qing Muling glanced at them. “Shouldn’t Master know by now?”
Xuebing Xuan shook her head. “Not yet, but I didn’t expect that he would have ill intentions towards you, Junior Brother. I thought he was a decent person.”
With a cold expression, Qi Yalan grabbed the token and hairpin on the table and was about to throw them out, but was stopped by Xuebing Xuan.
“Don’t be impulsive. Our relationship with the Dao Court is still good. If we cause trouble over this, many things will be difficult to handle in the future.”
Qing Muling also said, “As long as I don’t back down, they won’t have a chance. You don’t need to worry.”
Cheng Yulan smiled. “Of course, we trust you. This matter is of great importance… Well, we should report to Master and ask her to make a decision.”
Outside the mountain gate, in an inconspicuous border town, in a small Taoist temple, Luo Huan was faced with an unexpected visitor. Wrapped in a heavy gray robe, the visitor’s aura was completely concealed. Even with her cultivation, Luo Huan couldn’t see through the visitor’s true intentions.
“…You’ve got quite the nerve,” Luo Huan said lightly. “You’ve deliberately contacted me and invited me here for a private meeting. Although this place is remote, it is still the territory of my Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, under the protection of the sect’s guardian formation. What gives you the courage to come here alone to see me?”
The voice of the gray-robed person was not unpleasant. “We are just businessmen. We have always believed that harmony brings wealth. We have no intention of being enemies with the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. This time, we are here to meet with Fairy Luo at the request of someone, to discuss a big deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Very simple. Secretly monitor the movements of Qing Muling, and within the next three months, find a way to lure him out to the sect’s main altar. After that, we will take care of the rest.”
Luo Huan’s eyes narrowed, and the temperature around her dropped sharply. Her sharp killing intent locked onto the visitor’s vital points.
“Daring to make such a request, do you think you’re invincible? Do you really think I won’t take action?”
The gray-robed person chuckled. “No, please listen to what I have to say. Your talent and aptitude are indeed outstanding, but you are not from the direct line of the sect master. Even with the support of your ancestors, you will not have the chance to become the next sect master. The best you can achieve in the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace is to become a core elder. Are you… willing to accept this result?”
Luo Huan’s momentum slightly faltered, and the terrifying killing intent subsided.
The gray-robed person continued, “Xuebing Xuan and the other four have talents that are not inferior to yours. Now, with the addition of Qing Muling, the next Supreme Sect Master will definitely come from among these five. Only if something happens to all of them will the other factions in the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace have a chance. You wouldn’t object to this, would you?”
“So I came here. As long as Fairy Luo is willing to cooperate with us, we can provide enough resources to help you advance further. This assistance is not only in terms of resources but also opportunities to accumulate merit and contributions, allowing you to gradually become the most outstanding new generation genius in the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace.”
“Of course, in this process, you will need to cooperate with us to create suitable opportunities to lure out and eliminate Mu Yinghua’s four direct disciples. Once they are all gone, the position will be yours when Mu Yinghua chooses to retire!”
Luo Huan sneered. “You think you can fool me with such empty promises? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?”
The fall of any monstrous genius is not a trivial matter, let alone five? This person doesn’t even know what he’s dreaming of. Does he really think they are the only clever ones in the Great Void Starry Sky and that everyone else is a fool?
Luo Huan looked outside, already considering whether to summon her guardian to take down this ignorant person. Continuing to waste time with him would be pointless, and she still had to go back to play with Junior Brother.
Unaware of the impending doom, the gray-robed person calmly took out a dark golden seal the size of a human head, a bottle containing three Xuanqing Creation Spirit Pills, and a jade card, and placed them in front of Luo Huan, speaking gently:
“This seal is a powerful innate spirit treasure. The bottle contains three Xuanqing Creation Spirit Pills, and the jade card holds a set of spatial coordinates. As long as you follow the coordinates, you will arrive at a vast void landmass, rich in resources and spiritual energy, a rare blessed land. It will be your exclusive cultivation site in the future.”
“This is just the first set of resources we have prepared for you. With these benefits, you should be able to smoothly advance your cultivation and accumulate merit and contributions. If you are willing to continue cooperating with us in the future, we will have more benefits to offer!”
Luo Huan shook her head. “It sounds good, but do you think I should agree to sell the entire sect for such a small benefit?”
There is no such thing as a free lunch. You have to give as much as you get, especially with these unclear benefits. Once you give in to greed, you will only sink deeper and be left with nothing!Luo Huan was not the naive and sweet newbie in the field; she saw through many things with crystal clarity. To think that such a lie could fool her was an outright insult to her intelligence.
The man in the grey robe was not discouraged: “As I’ve said, this is just to provide you with the initial resources. There will be more benefits for you later on. If you’re not satisfied, the offer is not set in stone!”
As he spoke, a piece of battle armor shimmering with rainbow light and exuding a rich Dao Rhyme appeared on the desk, evidently another Postnatal Spirit Treasure.
A mocking look flashed in Luo Huan’s eyes as she remained cold and silent.
The grey-robed man spoke with a hint of helplessness: “How about this? You just need to lure Qing Muling out of the Main Altar, and you can take these benefits now. Once the deed is done, our side will give you another Postnatal Spirit Treasure as a reward.”
“With the first cooperation, I believe we will establish enough trust to make further collaborations much easier. What do you think?”
Luo Huan chuckled: “Firstly, he won’t be so easily deceived. Knowing that certain forces are out to harm him, do you think he would make such a low-level mistake? Secondly, even if he leaves the Main Altar, he will surely be accompanied by a large group of Supreme Elders as his protectors. How many forces are you prepared to sacrifice to abduct him?”
The man in the grey robe pondered: “Can’t he just sneak out alone? Even if he brings fewer people, it would work!”
Luo Huan’s rejection was absolute: “Impossible!”