I'll Go and Negotiate

"Are you demonic cultivators?"

"Always so quick to resort to violence."

Though the Tianxuan Continent operates on the principle of survival of the fittest, the way Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang casually talk about wiping out this one and slaughtering that one reeks of the methods used by demonic cultivators.

But in truth, Bai Qianshuang is sharp as ice (or so it seems). Having grown up on the Tianxuan Continent, her words are merely verbal threats to apply pressure.

Ye Chuan, however, is different.

He genuinely wants the Soul-Sacrificial Banner.

"What should we do now…" Elder Lingxu’s fingers unconsciously curled beneath his sleeves, brushing against the communication jade token engraved with his sect’s sigil inside his storage pouch, barely suppressing the tremor in his heart.

Staring at the two young cultivators before him—their auras restrained yet faintly radiating the pressure of the Spirit Transformation Realm—he swallowed hard and softened his tone further. "Young friends, today’s offense by the Liu Family was solely the doing of Liu Chengfeng’s personal vendetta."

"The rest of the clan was merely incited, acting rashly out of foolishness. It was never the collective will of the Liu Family."

Who would have thought that he, a mighty Spirit Transformation Realm expert, would have to humble himself before juniors like this?

Before he could finish, the corner of his eye caught Bai Qianshuang lifting her gaze slightly. Her eyes were as cold as a frozen pond, sending an inexplicable shiver down his spine despite his centuries of cultivation.

He hastily added, "Now that Liu Chengfeng has had his cultivation crippled and his demonic core shattered by you two, he has received the punishment he deserves."

"I implore you both to set aside your grievances and refrain from further impulsive actions, lest we damage the harmony among fellow cultivators of the Donghua Divine Continent."

"Impulsive?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow, sipping his tea. "I’m not being impulsive. I just think that since the Liu Family insulted my wife and refused to lend their teleportation array, slaughtering them is the simplest solution."

The moment these words left his mouth, not only did Elder Lingxu’s pupils constrict, but even the disciples of the Phoenix Feather Sect standing by the pillars gasped audibly.

Slaughter them?

Seriously?

The Liu Family has two Spirit Transformation Realm experts guarding them. Not to mention, if the Liu Family were truly in danger, the Phoenix Feather Sect wouldn’t stand idly by—the ties between the two factions are far too intricate.

Yet what the elder truly feared was the power behind these two.

To speak of Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators as if they were mere weeds—such confidence was unheard of on the Tianxuan Continent. Only those ancient, millennia-old sacred sects would dare act so brazenly.

Elder Lingxu opened his mouth, wanting to say, "Isn’t this the definition of impulsive?" But the words died on his tongue.

Taking a deep breath, he cast aside all pride and lowered his stance even further. "Young friends, perhaps there’s still room for negotiation. Allow this old man to personally mediate with the Liu Family. I’ll see if they can offer an apology and grant you access to their teleportation array."

In his heart, he knew full well: these two had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm at such a young age. If they truly were prodigies from a sacred sect, mishandling this situation wouldn’t just doom the Liu Family—it might drag the entire Phoenix Feather Sect into ruin.

Ye Chuan gave Elder Lingxu a surprised look. "Oh? You’re quite eager to mediate. Volunteering so readily?"

Was it because they were all from the Donghua Divine Continent? Did this elder feel some kinship?

Ye Chuan pondered for a moment but dismissed the thought.

"Indeed." Elder Lingxu nodded quickly, afraid Ye Chuan might refuse. "This old man holds some modest influence within the Phoenix Feather Sect. The Liu Family will at least give me some face."

"Please rest here in the sect for a while. I’ll head to the Liu Family immediately and return with a resolution that satisfies you both."

Though his words were smooth, his mind was in chaos.

The Liu Family had just lost three cultivators to Ye Chuan’s hands. How could such bloodshed be resolved so easily?

But if he didn’t mediate, given the temperament of these two, they might truly storm the Liu Family’s gates, escalating the situation beyond control.

His plan was simple: stall Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang, then immediately contact the sect master once he left the hall. The stakes were too high—he didn’t dare make decisions alone.

As Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang followed the disciples to their guest quarters, Elder Lingxu finally allowed his stiffened back to relax slightly, though the weight in his chest remained.

Without wasting a second, he flicked his sleeves, spiritual light flashing beneath his feet as he sped toward the sect master’s secluded retreat in the back mountains.

The spiritual plants along the path trembled under the surge of his aura, and birds scattered from the trees, unable to keep up with his speed.

Arriving outside the Azure Cloud Hall, where the sect master resided, Elder Lingxu straightened his robes and bowed respectfully, urgency lacing his voice. "Lingxu requests an audience with the sect master on a matter of grave importance!"

The grand doors slowly parted, releasing a wave of profound, steady spiritual energy. A middle-aged man in crimson-gold daoist robes emerged, his scholarly features carrying the authority of one who had weathered countless storms—Feng Tian, master of the Phoenix Feather Sect.

His gaze settled on Elder Lingxu. "Lingxu, what has you so flustered?"

Elder Lingxu wasted no time, recounting every detail from the confrontation in the main hall—Liu Chengfeng’s provocation, the Liu Family cultivators’ attack, Ye Chuan effortlessly slaying three of them, and his own desperate offer to mediate.

When he mentioned Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang’s youth and their Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation, his tone grew heavier. "Sect Master, such talent and power are unheard of outside the most elite sacred sects. In my judgment, those two must be prodigies from a top-tier sacred sect of the Donghua Divine Continent!"

Feng Tian fell into contemplation.

The wind outside rustled through the bamboo grove, its whispers doing nothing to disrupt his thoughts.

After a long pause, he looked up, his gaze sharp. "You said Ye Chuan appears no older than twenty, yet possesses such strength?"

"Exactly!" Elder Lingxu nodded fervently. "Not only that, when he killed the Liu Family cultivators, his expression was utterly indifferent, as if he were merely crushing ants. Such composure and confidence are beyond any ordinary genius."

Feng Tian gave a slight nod, his mind made up.

The Tianxuan Continent was vast, but the factions capable of nurturing a Spirit Transformation Realm expert so young—and one so ruthlessly bold—could be counted on one hand.

Mishandling this could plunge the Phoenix Feather Sect into disaster.

"The Liu Family acted recklessly this time, provoking someone they shouldn’t have. They’ll reap what they’ve sown," Feng Tian said. "But if we don’t handle this properly, the fallout could drag our sect down with them."

Elder Lingxu hesitated. "Sect Master, what should we do? If I go to mediate, the Liu Family’s current stance makes compromise unlikely. But if we don’t intervene, those two might unleash their wrath, and the consequences would be catastrophic!"

Feng Tian met his gaze. "You won’t be going. Given the Liu Family’s ties to our sect, I’ll handle this personally."

Elder Lingxu’s eyes widened. "Sect Master, you’re going yourself? Isn’t that too risky?"

"No. With the terrifying background those two possess, the Liu Family wouldn’t be foolish enough to resist," Feng Tian replied, shaking his head.

"Yet the names Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang are likely nothing more than aliases."