They Began Negotiations!

Saltless Mountain lay exactly between Beast Taming Manor and Thunder Fire Sect, a certain distance from both sects.

The reason they had chosen to negotiate here was that both sides had their own calculations. Once they tore off all pretenses and came to blows, each would have room to maneuver and withdraw.

Any force capable of entering the Sect Force Realm, even if only among the third-rate ranks, was by no means comparable to an ordinary force.

Although fewer than ten people had been sent by each side for these negotiations, both had long since arranged reinforcements along their retreat routes.

Though it was only a small-scale negotiation, it had already become, invisibly, a clash between two forces.

On Beast Taming Manor's side, one of the deputy manor lords, Zhuang Aoba, took the lead. Though he was over sixty years old, his body was as robust as a young man's. With Heaven Soul Realm strength, he was enough to deter and control any unexpected situation.

Most crucially, he was also the grandfather of Zhuang Shaoyuan, who had died at Thunder Fire Sect's hands in the Battle Realm.

Behind him stood several middle-aged men in their forties and fifties, all elders of standing within Beast Taming Manor. Four or five bulging Living Creature Pouches hung from each of their waists, clearly showing that they were prepared to fight fiercely at the slightest disagreement.

Standing amid their encircling protection was Apricot Blossom Rain. Today, she wore white hemp mourning clothes, looking as though she were dressed in sackcloth and mourning. Other than coldness, her lovely face held nothing but endless fury and killing intent.

Her gaze kept sweeping across the people Thunder Fire Sect had sent. When she failed to find the beast she had cursed countless times in her heart, the anger on her face deepened further.

Thunder Fire Sect, on the other hand, had sent considerably more people than Beast Taming Manor—eight in total.

Among those eight was Sect Master Zhao Kun. Like Zhuang Aoba, he was already advanced in years. He ought to have been enjoying his remaining years in the sect and raising his descendants, yet he had personally come here. Beyond the importance he placed on these negotiations, there was an even deeper reason.

During the journey into the Battle Realm, Zhao Kesong had died at Beast Taming Manor's hands!

Zhao Kun, who had only gained a son in his old age, had no other child. Upon hearing such dreadful news, he had nearly fainted dead away. Had the sect elders not stopped him, he likely would have long since charged into Beast Taming Manor to avenge his son.

Aside from Zhao Kun, who possessed Heaven Soul Realm strength, Thunder Fire Sect had also sent six middle-aged men at the Earth Soul Realm Late Stage, as well as a young man with a severed left arm.

That young man was Liu Chong, whom Lu Feng had deliberately spared in the Grand Illusionary Realm. He had not disappointed Lu Feng's expectations, successfully reporting back to Thunder Fire Sect that they had "fallen into Beast Taming Manor's ambush" within the Grand Illusionary Realm.

On another Mountain Peak five or six hundred meters away from Saltless Mountain, Iron Puppet's group lay hidden beneath the shade of the trees.

Their attire and appearance were vastly different from before. Everyone wore black robes and fully covering black masks etched with golden patterns. They were concealed from head to toe, giving off an air of utter mystery.

If Lu Feng had suddenly seen them, he likely would not have dared recognize them for a while.

Through Night Wanderer Blade's relay, they watched the happenings at the foot of Saltless Mountain from afar.

Though Night Wanderer Blade's cultivation method was not fit to see the light of day, making it difficult for him to move about in daylight, it had its unique advantages. Having walked through darkness year after year, he had trained formidable eyes and ears, allowing him to clearly see scenes eight hundred meters away at night.

Because of the restrictions of his cultivation method, his vision was much poorer during the day, but a distance of around five hundred meters still fell within his range of sight.

That was why they had chosen this place.

"How is it? Have they started negotiating over there?" Phantom Hand Ghost Blade asked anxiously.

"Not yet," Night Wanderer Blade complained. "They've been staring at each other wide-eyed for quite a while. Neither side has spoken, as if both are wary of the other's strength."

Blazing Enchantress analyzed, "Although Beast Taming Manor has fewer people than Thunder Fire Sect, aside from the people themselves, each of them should have brought a powerful tamed beast. That is also no weak force, enough to make up for their numerical disadvantage."

Ghost Performer nodded and added, "Since Thunder Fire Sect has even sent out its Sect Master, the Thunder Fire Pearls in everyone's hands surely aren't few either. If they truly fight, Beast Taming Manor likely understands that even with soul beasts assisting them, they may not gain any advantage."

"Shh~" Night Wanderer Blade made a silencing gesture. His gaze sharpened as he said solemnly, "They've begun negotiating!"

"Beast Taming Manor's Young Manor Lord Apricot Blossom Rain was the first to step forward. Zhuang Aoba appeared with her as well. He should be responsible for protecting Apricot Blossom Rain."

Blazing Enchantress muttered, "Judging from this, Beast Taming Manor's manor lord is likely still in seclusion. Otherwise, he would never watch his daughter take such risks without showing himself."

"Shh, she's speaking!" Night Wanderer Blade hushed them again. Watching the changes in Apricot Blossom Rain's lips, he had already made out her exact words and immediately relayed them. "Hand over that beast Wang Xu. Otherwise, Thunder Fire Sect will surely be overturned, root and branch!"

Hiss~

Hearing Night Wanderer Blade's relay, everyone could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

"This girl's words are far too aggressive!" Night Wanderer Blade's face showed several traces of shock. "With that attitude, how can these negotiations possibly continue!"

Blazing Enchantress gave a wicked smile. "It would be best if they can't continue. That would play right into our hands."

While they joked and discussed matters, the atmosphere at the foot of Saltless Mountain grew increasingly grim.

After Apricot Blossom Rain stepped forward to question them, the faces of Thunder Fire Sect's people instantly fell, each of them becoming incomparably gloomy.

Zhao Kun, as Sect Master, angrily rebuked, "How has Wang Xu of my sect offended you that you would humiliate him so?"

"He..." Apricot Blossom Rain was momentarily at a loss for words. Shame filled her heart. How could she dare reveal in public that Wang Xu had molested and defiled her in the Mountain Cave?

Yet to Thunder Fire Sect's group, this scene made it seem as though Apricot Blossom Rain were simply making trouble without reason, making them even more enraged.

Zhao Kun shouted at Zhuang Aoba, "Is this your sect's attitude toward negotiations? Letting a junior stir up trouble here so unreasonably!?"

At that moment, Liu Chong, hiding behind the crowd, suddenly mustered his courage and shouted, "If anyone is to be handed over, it should be your sect handing over that brat Zhuang Shaoyuan! I must avenge the loss of my arm today!"

Zhuang Aoba's face turned livid. First Zhao Kun had berated him, then Liu Chong had stirred up the grief of losing his son. Even though he had initially come prepared to seek peace, anger could not help rising within him. With a lift of his hand, a coffin flew out of his storage artifact and landed steadily before Zhao Kun.

Zhao Kun immediately flew into a rage. "What do you mean by this? Are you trying to start a war?"

Zhuang Aoba said furiously, "Didn't you keep clamoring to see my son? Here he is!"

As he spoke, the coffin lid was blasted open.

Zhuang Aoba's cold, stern voice rang out again. "Your sect keeps claiming that my manor killed and harmed your disciples, but do you have even the slightest evidence!? Yet my son Shaoyuan truly died beneath your sect's signature palm technique, the Thunder Fire Palm. That is an ironclad fact. What do you have to say for yourselves!"

Startled, Zhao Kun glanced into the coffin. Zhuang Shaoyuan's corpse had already stiffened, his entire body an ashen bluish-white. At the torn clothing over his chest was indeed a distinct dark-red palm print, unmistakably the force of the Thunder Fire Palm.

In an instant, Zhao Kun's face darkened. He shot Liu Chong a vicious glare, and powerful Soul Consciousness surged into the latter's soul sea. "Didn't you say he died in the Grand Illusionary Realm, and that no one could possibly know?"

Liu Chong's legs went weak, and he immediately collapsed to the ground. In the report he had given upon returning, he had stated that Zhuang Shaoyuan's corpse had already been dealt with. He had never expected it to be discovered and brought out of the Domain Realm.

With that, Thunder Fire Sect lost a measure of its advantageous position in the negotiations.

Zhao Kun calmed down and sorted through his thoughts before responding directly, "Judging from this palm strike, it was indeed the work of a disciple of my sect. However, Liu Bei, who struck the palm, is already dead, and his death was precisely deeply connected to your son Zhuang Shaoyuan!"

Liu Chong immediately echoed, "That's right. Had your son not plotted to ambush us first, Liu Bei would never have struck so ruthlessly. Thus, he brought it upon himself and cannot blame us."

"Hmph! What a fine 'brought it upon himself'!" Zhuang Aoba said furiously. "Then do you know why my son ambushed you! It was entirely because Wang Xu of your sect committed an act worse than a beast against our Young Manor Lord! So if anyone brought this upon themselves, it was your sect that brought it upon itself!"

Apricot Blossom Rain turned her head away in shame and indignation, her face frosty.

The anger on Zhao Kun's face subsided somewhat as he responded coldly, "If we are tracing causes in this manner, then according to what our sect knows, if we go further back, the origin of it all was your Apricot Blossom Rain setting up a Poison Insect Array and killing disciples of my sect. Therefore, every conflict was provoked by your manor."

Apricot Blossom Rain corrected him defensively, "That was an unintentional act. I never intended to target those people from your sect!"

After tracing the chain of causes and reasoning through it...

Zhuang Aoba frowned and pondered for a moment before voicing his suspicion. "Sect Master Zhao, don't you find this matter far too strange? It is as though we are all being led around by the nose. We must not let others use us as guns and fall for another sect force's scheme to sow discord."

Apricot Blossom Rain's heart skipped a beat, and she too vaguely sensed something amiss. For no reason, Lu Feng's figure suddenly surfaced in her mind, but she immediately shook her head, laughing at herself with a sorrowful sigh.

Such an insignificant little person could never possibly accomplish something so grand.

Zhao Kun gave an unhappy cold snort and rebuked, "Is your manor so lacking in responsibility? Do you only know how to shift blame? You have uncovered the source of the incident, yet choose not to discuss it, instead bringing up some nonexistent force from another sect?"

Liu Chong spoke up in agreement again. "You say someone is secretly causing trouble, then pull out that 'scapegoat' for us to see. I would like to see who possesses such great ability that they could make your son plot an ambush against us!"

Zhuang Aoba's face darkened again. Recalling his past enemies, he truly could not find anyone capable of doing something on such a scale.

The atmosphere fell into a stalemate once more, but this time Beast Taming Manor's side was clearly three parts weaker in confidence.

After all, judging from the trouble stirred up so far, Beast Taming Manor was undoubtedly the side at fault first.