Ma Liang Knows When to Bend and When to Stand Tall

Xie Songlin watched Chu Xinghe and the others leave, a mocking expression on his face.

No matter what you, Chu Xinghe, are up to, aren't you just a greenhorn who hasn't even grown up yet?

The little guy is so innocent.

What do you mean by clearing away the ghosts of the Silver Star Mountain Range?

Xie Songlin found this utterly ridiculous.

Do you think I, Xie Songlin, don't know what's going on with the ghostly presence in the Silver Star Mountain Range?

That was something our Cloud Firmament Sect created.

The Silver Star Mountain Range had been abandoned for a long time, but after the discovery of the giant Silver Star Ore, they suddenly became highly sought after.

Over the years, the Cloud Firmament Sect and the Vast Heaven Sect have coexisted peacefully while developing the Silver Star Ore together.

However, seeing the Vast Heaven Sect growing stronger and richer, the Cloud Firmament Sect also became envious.

Finally, the Cloud Firmament Sect got its chance. The sect unexpectedly obtained an ancient treasure, which was the source of the evil energy in the entire Silver Star Mountain Range.

With the help of this ancient treasure, the Cloud Firmament Sect successfully drove the Vast Heaven Sect out of the Silver Star Mountain Range, and now all the Silver Star Ore in the entire Silver Star Mountain Range have become the Cloud Firmament Sect's possession.

Xie Songlin couldn't help but laugh when Chu Xinghe came.

Back then, even when your Grand Elder of the Vast Heaven Sect came in person, he still couldn't do anything about the Silver Star Mountain Range.

Exorcising ghosts?

If it were truly a ghost, then your Vast Heaven Sect could eliminate it. But what lies within the Silver Star Mountain Range is not a ghost at all, but rather... Evil Qi Puppet!

This Evil Qi Puppet originated from the ancient treasure that the Cloud Firmament Sect unexpectedly obtained.

If this thing exists in the Silver Star Mountain Range, then the evil energy here will not dissipate. And as long as the evil energy does not dissipate, those Evil Qi Puppets that look like ghosts can be born endlessly here.

The previous claim that Ghost Emperor had been discovered in the Silver Star Mountain Range was merely a ploy by the Cloud Firmament Sect to mislead the Clear Vast Heaven Sect.

The Evil Qi Puppet itself doesn't have much combat power, but the key is that this thing is disgusting.

No matter how many times you kill these Evil Qi Puppets, they can be reborn from the evil energy, so they are virtually endless.

Unless the Vast Heaven Sect sends several Martial Emperors to keep watch here every day and kills Evil Qi Puppets that are born, it is impossible for them to mine Silver Star Ore.

While the price of Silver Star Ore is decent, isn't it a bit outrageous to say that several Martial Emperors would be spending their time here?

Therefore, Vast Heaven Sect had no choice but to withdraw from the Silver Star Mountain Range.

After all, the strong aren't afraid of these Evil Qi Puppets, but the miners digging for Silver Star Ore can't stand it...

The entire Silver Star Mountain Range is now shrouded in evil energy, and all the Silver Star Ore in the Silver Star Mountain Range have become the possession of the Cloud Firmament Sect.

As for Chu Xinghe's suggestion to cleanse these ghosts, Xie Songlin thought it was utterly wishful thinking.

Come on... Your Vast Heaven Sect, hurry and cleanse this place of ghosts and demons...

When the time comes, Chu Xinghe, you'll find that not only will you be unable to clean it up, but your Vast Heaven Sect will also have to consume resources because of it!

It's a complete loss!

That Little Wang Chu Xinghe actually asked me if I wanted the Silver Star Mountain Range anymore. Don't think I, Xie Songlin, don't know what Chu Xinghe is up to.

That Little Wang Chu Xinghe is definitely thinking that after clearing out the Silver Star Mountain Range, the Vast Heaven Sect will directly occupy them.

After all, she had said she didn't want it anymore... But Chu Xinghe, you were too naive.

When I said no, I was just trying to fool you. Your Vast Heaven Sect can't touch the Silver Star Mountain Range at all. In the end, only our Cloud Firmament Sect can mine the Silver Star Ore.

Chu Xinghe, along with Ma Liang and An Lan, has returned to Ice City.

"I think it must be the Cloud Firmament Sect doing this!" Ma Liang said indignantly.

"Why are you spouting such obvious truths? Do you have any evidence?" Chu Xinghe glanced at Ma Liang.

Judging from Xie Songlin's behavior, even if Chu Xinghe were stupid, he would know that this matter must be related to the Cloud Firmament Sect.

What? You, Xie Songlin, are an enforcement elder of the Cloud Firmament Sect? Instead of staying in the sect, you've run off to Snow City?

And what a coincidence that you appeared just as we entered the Cloud Firmament Sect's territory... Isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?

"Senior Brother Xinghe, let's ask the elders of the sect to come and help!"

Ma Liang refused to believe it. Were the ghosts and monsters of the Silver Star Mountain Range truly inexhaustible?

But as Ma Liang finished speaking, An Lan chimed in, "It's no use. Those things are probably something called Evil Qi Puppets. They are born from evil energy. As long as the evil energy doesn't dissipate, no matter how clean it is, they will reappear after a while."

"They are not strong, but they are extremely disgusting, and it is absolutely impossible to get rid of them completely."

An Lan's words left Ma Liang feeling helpless. Ma Liang spread his hands and said, "Is there really no way to solve this?"

"Unless we find the true form of the Evil Qi Puppet, it will cease to exist once we obtain it. However, the Silver Star Mountain Range is so vast that finding the true form of the Evil Qi Puppet be extremely difficult."

"Treasure hunting, huh? Yuzheng is amazing... I'll contact Yuzheng right now!" Ma Liang exclaimed with elation.

You could say Yuzheng isn't that great in other areas, but when it comes to treasure hunting, there's no one in the world more awesome than Feng Yuzheng.

What Evil Qi Puppet body? Even if the Cloud Firmament Sect hides this thing in its awesomeness, Feng Yuzheng can still dig it out for you.

Just as Ma Liang was about to contact Feng Yuzheng, Chu Xinghe stopped him.

Goodness... Ma Liang's brain is really quick; he came up with Feng Yuzheng's Treasure Seeking Art without warning.

Although Feng Yuzheng's Divine Engraving Technique is incomplete, his Treasure Seeking Art is complete.

While others may not know this Treasure Seeking Art, doesn't Chu Xinghe understand it?

This Treasure Seeking Art is amazing! Forget about treasures, even if I, Senior Brother Xinghe, were lost, Feng Yuzheng could find them for me.

So if Feng Yuzheng were to enter the Silver Star Mountain Range, the true form of their Evil Qi Puppets would be found by Feng Yuzheng in no time.

Once we control the Evil Qi Puppet, we can directly seize the Silver Star Ore, leaving the Cloud Firmament Sect with a silent loss.

Logically speaking, Ma Liang's method was quite good.

But Ma Liang... can't you ever consider Senior Brother Xinghe when you do things?

If we really follow your plan, how many resources would the Silver Star Ore bring to our Vast Heaven Sect every year?

Are you targeting the Cloud Firmament Sect or your Senior Brother Xinghe?

Besides... if they really follow Ma Liang's approach, the Cloud Firmament Sect will suffer an extremely painful loss by losing Evil Qi Puppet and the Silver Star Ore.

The problem is, am I the kind of person who lets Senior Brother Xinghe suffer in silence?

The Cloud Firmament Sect has practically delivered themselves to our doorstep; shouldn't we give them a good slap in the face instead of just letting them suffer in silence?

Therefore, Chu Xinghe stopped Ma Liang, who was about to send a message to Feng Yuzheng, and said, "Ma Liang, don't worry about this. I, your Senior Brother Xinghe, have my own arrangements. This time, I promise you, I will give Senior Brother Xinghe Cloud Firmament Sect a huge surprise."

However, before this surprise, Chu Xinghe specially arranged for Ma Liang and An Lan to make a trip to Snow City, with Xie Songlin as their target.

"Go again?" Ma Liang looked bewildered, not quite understanding.

"Go ask Xie Songlin if the Cloud Firmament Sect really doesn't want the Silver Star Mountain Range anymore. Oh, and remember to bring a memory crystal to record it, just in case they deny it later."

Although he didn't understand what Senior Brother Xinghe meant by making him do this, for Ma Liang, Senior Brother Xinghe's arrangements were everything, so Ma Liang took An Lan and headed to Snow City without stopping.

After Ma Liang left, Chu Xinghe hummed "Wishing you prosperity" while taking out his spirit bird. After some writing and drawing, the spirit bird flew all the way from Ice City to the Vast Heaven Sect...

Watching the spirit bird fly further and further away, Chu Xinghe revealed a satisfied smile.

Ma Liang, your plan is perfect, but it's a bit too small-minded.

Just you wait, watch Senior Brother Xinghe give you a big one!

If we don't beat the Cloud Firmament Sect to a pulp this round, then we'll consider them clean!

When Xie Songlin saw Ma Liang return in Snow City, his expression was rather unpleasant.

After all, Ma Liang's actions in the Great Moon Kingdom had caused the Cloud Firmament Sect to lose face.

Although the Vast Heaven Sect punished Ma Liang severely, look at Ma Liang, does he look like an outer disciple?

Who has ever seen an outer sect disciple take control of the Fengdu Token without a second thought?

Even our Cloud Firmament Sect knows that Ma Liang is known as Chu Xinghe's most trusted confidant. And who is Chu Xinghe?

This guy is Chu Xinghe's most trusted confidant. Does it matter whether he's an outer disciple or an inner disciple?

What? The Cloud Firmament Sect announced that I, Xie Songlin, have been demoted from an enforcement elder to an outer disciple, and now the disciples of the Cloud Firmament Sect dare to act so arrogantly towards me? I'll crush them!

Regardless of whether this outer disciple is real or fake, at least the Vast Heaven Sect's explanation to the world is correct.

Seeing Ma Liang return, Xie Songlin wanted nothing more than to strangle Ma Liang, but on the surface, he still had to act extremely kind.

"Ma Liang, why are you back again? Is there something you need from the Cloud Firmament Sect? Or is there another sister of yours here?"

As soon as Xie Songlin spoke, Ma Liang sneered.

Ma Liang could tell that Xie Songlin was deliberately provoking him. If it were before, Ma Liang might have immediately gone berserk and confronted Xie Songlin after hearing this.

However, the Ma Liang of today is not the same Ma Liang of the past. As a man who will become the Grand Elder of the Vast Heaven Sect in the Future, Ma Liang is capable of being flexible and adaptable.

Ma Liang certainly knew what Xie Songlin was up to.

However, this old man was delusional. He didn't realize that when he finished speaking, Senior Brother An Lan had already walked up behind him. If a fight broke out, he would definitely be the one who got stabbed to death.

Although Ma Liang really wanted Senior Brother An Lan to stab this old bastard to death, Ma Liang understood even more that Senior Brother Xinghe's instructions were more important than Xie Songlin's life or death.

Ignoring Xie Songlin's sarcasm, Ma Liang asked directly.

"Elder Xie, there's no need for such empty talk. Today, Ma Liang has come on behalf of Senior Brother Xinghe to ask Elder Xie again whether your Cloud Firmament Sect truly no longer wants the Silver Star Mountain Range?"

"Hehe... My word is my bond. Didn't I already say it before? My Cloud Firmament Sect can no longer keep the Silver Star Mountain Range."

"Elder Xie, can you represent the Cloud Firmament Sect? What if our Vast Heaven Sect clears you out, and then your Cloud Firmament Sect comes to take it back? That would be..."

"Ma Liang, as the Enforcement Elder of the Cloud Firmament Sect, my words naturally represent the Cloud Firmament Sect. I declare here today: if the Vast Heaven Sect can truly clear out the Silver Star Mountain Range, my Cloud Firmament Sect will not take a single penny more!"

Hearing Xie Songlin's reply, Ma Liang knew it was all right...

Without exchanging any more words with Xie Songlin, Ma Liang clasped his hands in a salute and turned to leave.

However, Ma Liang was also very curious: what exactly was Senior Brother Xinghe planning to do this time?