Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Chapter 968: Chapter 705: Open Attacks and Hidden Schemes

The warmth on Celestial Mist True Monarch’s face vanished completely, his tone turning deep and obscure.

True Monarch Red Lotus stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "I said long ago, this man is no creature to be trapped in a small pond; he will naturally wait for a good price. For him to hand over a secret method so tactfully is already not bad."

"Exchanging a single Flowing Gold Flood-Flame Armor for this key secret method is worth it."

Celestial Mist True Monarch nodded, yet there was little joy in his eyes.

"Only, it went a bit too smoothly. Did he truly leave no backhand?"

"What True Monarch worries about, this old man also feels. Still, for now, to obtain this method without drawing blades is already the best policy."

True Monarch Red Lotus spoke slowly. "After all, he is likewise of the Human Race, and moreover a Tier Four Body Refining Cultivator of the Divine Power Realm. If we truly tore aside all pretense and used force, even if we succeeded, it would be a low move and might give rise to variables."

Celestial Mist True Monarch fell silent.

Their initial scheme was precisely to precede soldiers with courtesy.

Use a Tier Four battle armor from the sect’s reserves as bait, in exchange for the secret method.

If Shen Xuan refused or played tricks, then they might well enact methods of imprisonment and coercion.

With the Spirit Control Sect’s means, they naturally had ways to make him willingly spill out everything.

"Enough."

Celestial Mist True Monarch let out a light sigh and picked up that Jade Scroll of the Thunder Spirit Pearl Refining method.

"Fellow Daoist Red Lotus, make a copy. The front line is strained; this old man must immediately bring the original scroll back to the sect to report."

He paused, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. "By this old man’s true intention, I would rather take this person back to the Spirit Control Sect."

"This man possesses both Artifact Refining and Array skills. His attainments on the new-type puppets are likely not limited to what we’ve seen. If he could develop Tier Three Puppets that can be controlled as soon as one reaches Foundation Establishment..."

He did not continue; the implication was self-evident.

The boost to the sect’s strength would be revolutionary.

"True Monarch, this matter must be approached with caution."

True Monarch Red Lotus shook his head. "He is, after all, a Tier Four Cultivator of Song Country’s Cyan Cloud Sect, a sensitive identity. If we seize him by force, it is easy to cause Discord between the sects of the two countries, a loss outweighing the gain. Let him remain in the Bright Flame Sect, with us watching over him and advancing slowly—that is the truly steady course."

He cast a glance at True Monarch Red Flame, who sat beside them with eyes closed, resting, and continued, "Moreover, though he has yet to condense a Nascent Soul, he is likewise a Tier Four Great Cultivator. Even if the three of us joined hands, victory is certain, but to take him alive, we have no absolute confidence. Should we miss our mark and let him escape, Bright Flame Sect’s ten-thousand-year reputation would be ruined overnight."

The more ancient the Inheritance of a Major Sect, the more they cherish their feathers.

Some things may be done.

But they must never personally wade into the mud, nor leave handles for others to seize.

Celestial Mist True Monarch pondered for a long time, and in the end he nodded. "Very well. This man is of great consequence. You two must see to it that he’s well watched; do not let him vanish without a sound."

"Rest easy, True Monarch."

True Monarch Red Lotus and True Monarch Red Flame replied in unison.

The pale cyan light screen quietly dispersed.

Within the Cave Mansion, the Spirit Fire still burned.

As if all the secret talk and schemes just now had never happened.

...

In the secret chamber of Tiger Roar Peak, it was dark and deathly quiet.

Shen Xuan closed his eyes, replaying the scene just now within his sea of consciousness.

"Celestial Mist True Monarch—recruitment was the façade, probing the bottom line was real."

A cold sneer rose in Shen Xuan’s heart.

Behind that seemingly enthusiastic invitation lay an all-too-obvious desire for control.

That murky pool of the Spirit Control Sect—he would never step into it.

"This Bright Flame Sect is not a place to linger either."

Shen Xuan let out a silent sigh.

That the trade went smoothly today was merely because he still held value, and they lacked absolute certainty.

He took out the Flowing Gold Flood-Flame Armor; his Divine Sense poured over it like molten silver, inch by inch sweeping over every scale-pattern and every Dao Talisman line on the armor.

The structure was solid, the aura ancient; there were no concealed imprints of Divine Thought or Tracking Restrictions.

"The armor is genuine, the goods as advertised."

Shen Xuan let out a slight breath of relief.

Fortunately, they had at least upheld their surface credibility.

Luckily he was a Tier Four Divine Power Realm Body Refining Cultivator.

Otherwise, it was highly possible he would be offered up by Bright Flame Sect to the Spirit Control Sect.

Thereafter his life and death would be held entirely in others’ hands, reduced to a captive forging puppets day and night.

"Hmph, so-called righteous major sects, so-called Nascent Soul True Monarchs!"

A chill flashed in Shen Xuan’s eyes.

"At bottom they are just a pack of scheming, short-sighted wretches!"

If those three had truly cast aside all concern for face and suddenly struck today—

His two fists could not fight six hands; he would have found it hard to withstand.

Yet for them to keep him would be far from easy.

After [Wind and Thunder Escape Technique] reached minor completion, the agility of wind and the swiftness of thunder fused; the result was far more than a simple one plus one.

Even if three Nascent Soul True Monarchs joined forces to seal the space, he had ninety percent confidence he could tear open a gap and flee far away.

He was a Tier Three Upper Grade Array Master.

In understanding Array Restrictions, he surpassed most Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

He was also adept at [Wishful Size], [Thousand Transformations], [Concealing Breath], [Invisibility] and the like.

Let alone Red Lotus Peak—even the Sect Protection Array of Bright Flame Sect, he could enter and exit with ease.

"Enough."

Suppressing the cold in his heart, Shen Xuan put the battle armor away.

"Now is not the time to haggle over this."

This debt—he had written it down.

For the moment, he still needed to lie low within Bright Flame Sect.

The Spirit Vein here was acceptable, the surroundings familiar, and he had the network of people he had cultivated over these years.

He had nurtured numerous Array Masters and Artifact Refiners for Bright Flame Sect; the foundation was already laid.

Those new-type puppets had changed the fate of countless Low Tier disciples.

That incense karma, that illustrious reputation, were an intangible protective talisman.

Those within the sect who had benefited from him and held gratitude toward him were beyond counting.

Even True Monarch Red Lotus, if he wished to move against him, would have to weigh the consequences.

Could he bear the internal dissent and schism within the sect?

Could he bear the stigma of breaking faith and persecuting a meritorious contributor?

Major Sects value face above all.

"Strength allows me to withdraw at any time. Reputation keeps them from openly making a move."

"This is my confidence in Bright Flame Sect."

"Still, some matters can be advanced slowly. Let them hang for now."

...

After the trade, the days returned to calm.

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