Chapter 591: The Two-Sect Meeting

‘In other words, we’re to split up and act separately…’

Chen Che summarized in his mind.

However, according to the other party, this method of a swift counter-attack could indeed prevent them from running into a second ambush.

“I wonder what my fellow Daoists from the Primordial Sect think of this?”

After he finished speaking, Jiang Shaotian picked up his wine cup and raised it to the crowd. No one on his side spoke; clearly, they had already come to a consensus before the people from the Primordial Sect arrived.

Chen Che couldn’t help but sneer. This banquet was truly a bloodless scheme; the other party was probing for their views.

Qiu Tianshui didn’t speak. His gaze swept over everyone as he communicated directly with his Divine Sense.

Logically speaking, after surviving an ambush, the two sides should continue to work together to avoid entering Mist Rain Tower’s territory, where they might face another frenzied counter-attack.

But as it turned out, the Star-Picking Sect was acting uncharacteristically. In a situation where they should have been uniting, they were unwilling to continue traveling with the Primordial Sect. Whether this was out of caution or had some other meaning, no one knew for sure.

However, traveling separately had its pros and cons.

While staying together would concentrate all their strength into a spearhead capable of repelling any attack from Mist Rain Tower…

…they were, after all, traveling with wolves. The great enemy they faced wasn’t just Mist Rain Tower. To take it a step further, if the Mist Rain Tower’s main target in this Chu State battle was the Primordial Sect…

…the Star-Picking Sect might immediately turn on them and devour their battered forces.

The reverse was also true.

Perhaps the Star-Picking Sect had the same reservations, which was why they had proposed splitting up.

Most of those present understood the situation. Communicating via Divine Sense, they all agreed to act separately, and Chen Che and Duobao were no exception.

Receiving several Divine Sense messages in a row, Qiu Tianshui couldn’t help but smile. He cupped his fist to Jiang Shaotian and said, “Right Protector, what you say is absolutely correct. Mist Rain Tower also suffered heavy losses in this battle. We should launch an all-out offensive and prevent them from having enough time to recover.”

“However, our Primordial Sect was ambushed by two of Mist Rain Tower’s halls, the Azure Dragon Hall and the White Tiger Hall. Our injuries are quite severe, so we will need to wait a few more days before we can set out.”

“Three days from now, after the ‘Thirteen Water Light Array’ disappears, we ask our fellow Daoists from the Star-Picking Sect to advance first. You will have first pick of any resources you acquire.”

‘Bastard!’

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shaotian’s gaze hardened, and he couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

Qiu Tianshui’s words strongly implied that the Primordial Sect had suffered heavy losses, which was why he was asking them to go first and even offering to give up a portion of the resources.

But they had also suffered significant losses. As for resources, that was a joke. The next leg of their journey wasn’t even in the heart of Mist Rain Tower’s territory; what resources could there possibly be to choose from? Taking the lead meant being the vanguard, drawing Mist Rain Tower’s fire.

Naturally, Jiang Shaotian would not agree to this.

And so, the two sides engaged in another war of words.

Chen Che toyed with his teacup, watching the two trade veiled remarks. They had both mastered the art of language and social maneuvering. Compared to them, Chen Che realized his own petty cleverness was nothing.

But still, everyone had their own strengths.

These people had lived for hundreds of years and had long since perfected the means of manipulating people’s hearts. But in the face of absolute power, all schemes and plots were meaningless. Although everyone was a piece on the chessboard, some pieces were stronger than others.

Just as he was thinking this, Chen Che suddenly felt an icy gaze on him. Without even looking up, he could tell from its direction that it was Duobao.

‘I wonder if I’ll get a chance to get rid of him this time… It’s really annoying to be constantly watched by someone like him. Unfortunately, an opportunity might not present itself. Although Qiu Tianshui has his own selfish motives, he generally prioritizes the bigger picture.’

Chen Che sipped his Spirit Tea, pondering silently.

Although he had been locked in a fierce battle with Wen Yangxi, he had still managed to catch a glimpse of Duobao’s fight. The man’s Blood Sword Pill had an alluring yet bizarre quality to it. Moreover, while fighting against the Golden Core cultivators of the White Tiger Hall, Duobao had actually seemed to grow stronger the more he fought.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so desperate to give chase when Mist Rain Tower retreated.

After the battle at Primordial City, Chen Che had once asked Yu Qian about the characteristics of the ‘Blood Sword Pill’.

After searching through numerous ancient texts, Yu Qian hadn’t been able to give a clear answer, only an ambiguous speculation. The Sword Pill was most likely honed with fresh blood and coalesced by Resentment Qi, giving it the characteristics of an Evil Artifact.

There weren’t many records about Sword Pills on the Earth Element Star either—

but it did mean that since it was a Magical Artifact, it was bound to have its own unique characteristics:

For example, the ‘Evil Eye Necklace’ could enhance one’s Divine Sense. Then there was Meng Qianxun’s Horn, which was a Sound Law Instrument. Or the Thunder Jade Gourd, which had a devouring effect in addition to its weight. Or Xiao Chan’s Soul-Calling Banner…

As for the Sword Pill’s characteristics, or what kind of special ability it might be hiding, that was a secret only its master would know.

While Chen Che was pondering, Duobao was speculating as well. Unfortunately, neither of them had a definitive answer.

Everyone sat before the bonfire, each lost in their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, Qiu Tianshui and Jiang Shaotian continued their verbal sparring. Though their reasons differed, they both refused to be the first to set out. In the end, they negotiated to advance together after seven days and even put on a show of forming a verbal offensive and defensive alliance:

whichever Sect was attacked by Mist Rain Tower, the other must provide assistance.

Although they both agreed to it on the surface, they didn’t even form a contract. It was likely that neither Qiu Tianshui nor Jiang Shaotian took this promise seriously.