Talk After Being Convinced by Force

"Malice alone makes an enemy." Xigua's voice remained gentle as her eyes swept over the fiercely murderous Li Xingtian before her.

Truly a blood-cultivation fiend—his killing intent radiated from within, impossible to conceal even beneath a calm exterior.

Xigua felt the pure blood essence continuously transmitted through her flexible sword. "I’ve come bearing a great gift. Would the Sect Leader care to hear more?"

Li Xingtian's expression remained unchanged, but behind him, Yu Jing and Wen Zuo could no longer mask their shock.

They couldn’t quite tell—was this an enemy drawn by the sect leader’s unrestrained ways, or had the bait they’d set finally hooked its prey?

"A cultivator like me believes only in calamity falling from the sky, never in unearned blessings." A glint of pure killing intent flashed in Li Xingtian’s eyes.

Xigua tightened her grip on her flexible sword. "When fate knocks, how can there be none?"

"Then release your sword, and I’ll grant you a new opportunity."

"This humble one dares not. What if you plan to send me straight to rebirth?"

"You dare come here alone—either you’re confident in your strength, or you’ve arranged backup outside." Li Xingtian narrowed his eyes. "What, do you think you have me cornered today?"

Xigua slowly unwound her sword from the bloodied blade. "I’m certain the Sect Leader won’t pass up this heaven-sent opportunity."

Li Xingtian didn’t raise his saber again. Instead, he tilted his head slightly.

"Then you’d best produce something that interests me. If you think you can deceive me and leave unscathed, by all means, try."

"The Sect Leader’s might shakes the land. This humble one isn’t tired of living—how could I dare mock you?" As she spoke, Xigua summoned a faintly grayish rhombus-shaped crystal from thin air, her technique unfathomable.

Li Xingtian’s eyes widened instantly.

Master’s foresight is impeccable. The prey has finally taken the bait—but whether we can reel it in depends on my acting now.

He reached out decisively, but Xigua twisted slightly, evading his grasp.

She swayed the crystal teasingly. "No need to rush, Sect Leader. Since I’ve shown it, I’ll naturally hand it over."

"What is that thing?" Li Xingtian pressed.

"A treasure that defies the heavens." She raised the crystal higher, letting him examine it clearly. "We found it in an ancient ruin—left behind by a cultivator who reshaped the world itself."

"With this, who dares say our path isn’t righteous?"

"Even the heavens acknowledge it. This is our ultimate destiny."

Xigua watched Li Xingtian, but his expression remained unmoved, as calm as before—as if the eager reach for the crystal had never happened.

His gaze shifted away. "Are there many of these? Otherwise, why share it with me?"

"Not many—just four or five." She toyed with the crystal. "But deciphering its secrets alone would take too long. No matter the hoard, only what’s in hand is real. Given your recent prominence, we thought you worthy of a share."

Li Xingtian grew wary. "And how does one study it?"

"We believe such heaven-forged treasures require either corruption or purification to activate." She extended the crystal toward him. "The choice is yours."

After a long silence, Li Xingtian spoke again:

"What’s the price? What arrangements do you demand?"

Xigua smiled faintly—dealing with the clever was always easier. Half the words could go unsaid.

"If our people could oversee—"

"No." Li Xingtian cut her off sharply. "You’d leash me before the work even starts? Next, I’d be your dog. Holding this might bring disaster."

"That girl who called me ‘benefactor’ after the fiend-cultivator purge—she was yours too, wasn’t she?"

"You want to conduct experiments here, so I’m in the way. Fine—I’ll leave in a few days."

"Let’s pretend we never met. I never saw this thing."

His refusal was absolute.

Master may not have taught much about cultivation, but in strategy and negotiation, his lessons were thorough.

Just observing the old man’s methods had been education enough. And in their sect, few were truly harmless.

San Dong might be the only innocent one.

Even the mild-mannered Cui Hao had his schemes, and the fourth disciple—once the epitome of righteousness—was starting to bend.

Biting too fast would only breed suspicion. Rejection made them cling. A little push-and-pull was necessary.

Li Xingtian knew this well—he’d fallen for such tactics before, to his bitter regret.

Besides, his true identity couldn’t be exposed.

Even if the ploy failed, the trap was already set. Reporting to Master for a full-scale ambush remained an option.

Xigua’s face stayed calm, but inwardly, she was stunned.

A blood-cultivator who resisted this?

Not only had he connected her to past events, but he’d also deduced she wanted him gone.

What a… talent.

Is he really a blood-cultivator?

Pity such a mind was wasted here.

But now that he’d seen the crystal and met her, there were only two choices: join or silence.

Xigua traced the crystal’s edges, studying Li Xingtian, weighing her options.

Better to recruit such talent than invite trouble.

Yet the next instant, a crimson blade of blood essence slashed toward her from his direction—no longer a probe, but a full-force strike.

Xigua reacted swiftly, her flexible sword coiling around her like armor.

The terrifying blood energy shredded everything in its path, reducing obstacles to dust before devouring them whole.

The attack tore through the modest cave, indiscriminately erasing the few fiend-cultivators still inside.

Xigua was sent flying.

As her sword retracted, her figure gradually reappeared. She stared down at the blood-cultivator now radiating his full Nascent Soul-stage aura.

Such sharp instincts.

She raised her sword, pointing at Li Xingtian. "Sect Leader, what warrants this sudden violence?"

Li Xingtian hovered midair, blood energy seething around him like a storm. His voice was a blade:

"Next time you spin lies, veil the killing intent in your eyes."

Xigua’s surprise flickered briefly before twisting into a savage grin. Her sword lifted, her own pressure unfurling like a tide.

A stubborn one. Best to beat him into submission before talking!