The Two Sect Masters Who Compromised

"What?"

Ning Jun wondered if there was something wrong with his ears.

Once he came to his senses, he finally realized what he had just heard.

This was practically banditry, but on second thought, wasn't that how he usually acted as well?

His methods were merely more discreet and looked better on the surface.

Yesterday's oppressor had become today's oppressed. He had yet to adjust to it.

But circumstances were stronger than men, so he could only swallow this bitter pill.

With a pained expression, he asked, "May I ask what you want?"

"A quarter of each of your sects' assets, converted into Gold Soul Coins, in exchange for your lives." Wu Xian spoke lightly, as though he were merely asking whether they had eaten.

Yet to Ning Jun and Yu Yuanzhen, his words struck like thunder.

Yu Yuanzhen's face darkened. "Surely you are joking."

"I never joke."

"Sir, that is absolutely impossible." Ning Jun refused to accept it. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had enormous assets.

But losing a quarter of its assets at once would definitely cripple the sect.

No, it would be even worse than that.

For a long time to come, the entire sect would be reduced to living on bran and thin gruel.

"A quarter of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's assets? You have quite the appetite. Aren't you afraid of choking to death?"

Yu Yuanzhen's tone was stiff. Rather than lose a quarter of the sect's assets, he would rather die fighting here.

Ning Jun even threatened him. "Sir, your strength may be formidable, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have tens of thousands of disciples. We can wear you to death through sheer numbers."

Wu Xian felt no ripple in his heart at their threats.

Not to mention that within his domain, he was a true god.

Even if they died here, would the Lower Four Sects not have ideas of their own?

Wu Xian felt it was necessary to remind them.

"You need to understand one thing. Once you die, will the sects behind you still have the leisure to seek revenge on me? I will not even need to act. The other forces on the continent will uproot your sects completely."

At those words, Ning Jun lowered his head and said nothing.

Yu Yuanzhen's eyes were nearly splitting with rage. He wanted to resist, but he could not mobilize even the slightest trace of Soul Power.

He could only roar hysterically.

"My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has Sect Masters who die in battle, but never Sect Masters who betray their sect!"

"Is that so? Once you die, do you think the Clear Sky Sect or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be willing to swallow the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory and foundation?"

Yu Yuanzhen fell silent. He did not even need to look at Ning Jun to know that Ning Jun was surely hoping with all his heart that he would resist.

At this moment, Ning Jun dearly wished he could shout, Old Dragon, you and I are both among the Upper Three Sects. We stand together through thick and thin, and I will support you forever. You must fight him to the end!

But he knew that if he shouted it out, Yu Yuanzhen would definitely refuse.

Right now, he could only hope Yu Yuanzhen would be a little more unyielding.

That would be perfect for letting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect recover some losses.

As long as Yu Yuanzhen died, he would not even need to act.

He only needed to mention it to the Elephant Armor Sect, and their Sect Master would definitely be more than happy to make a move against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

But Yu Yuanzhen had already calmed down. He was no fool.

As one of the Upper Three Sects, he understood better than anyone else.

The so-called unity of the Upper Three Sects was nothing more than a joke. Once there were sufficient profits involved, would they still stand together through thick and thin?

Seeing that both men had already wavered, Wu Xian drove in another knife.

"Two Sect Masters, surely neither of you wishes to see your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan fall from the Upper Three Sects, or even vanish from the continent altogether."

"You..."

Why did that sound somewhat strange?

But it was indeed true. There was no need to speak of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Yu Yuanzhen was their only Titled Douluo.

Once he died, the sect would lose the protection of a Titled Douluo. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would likely collapse in an instant, considering how many enemies they had made over the years.

With only Yu Luomian, a Soul Douluo, left behind, they would most likely not last more than a few days before heading to Dragon City early.

If they were even slightly less fortunate, few of them would survive.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was in a somewhat better position, as Bone Douluo still guarded it.

But if both the Sect Master and Young Sect Master died, the sect would not be far from destruction either.

Yu Yuanzhen closed his eyes tightly, seemingly deep in thought, but Ning Jun had no intention of thinking any further.

What if Wu Xian changed his mind if they hesitated any longer?

Using a quarter of the sect's assets to preserve the lives of the three of them was absolutely worth it.

Once he made up his mind, Ning Jun spoke directly. "Sir, I am willing to use a quarter of the sect's assets to purchase the lives of the three of us. However, taking out Gold Soul Coins worth a quarter of our assets all at once is somewhat unrealistic. Could we pay it over two years?"

Wu Xian stared at Ning Jun, then nodded amid Ning Jun's anxious anticipation. "Yes."

Ning Jun sighed in relief. "Could you release Sword Douluo first and allow him to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to tally the sect's assets and bring back the first payment of Gold Soul Coins?"

Ning Jun asked tentatively.

The main reason was that without Sword Douluo present, he did not dare return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone, afraid that someone might kill him on the way.

Moreover, he did not believe Wu Xian would allow him to leave, and he also wanted Sword Douluo to see Ning Jun's loyalty.

After thinking for a moment, Wu Xian waved his hand. Sword Douluo immediately felt the Soul Power throughout his body return.

After landing on the ground and sensing the restored power within him, he let out a long breath.

He never wanted to experience that period of losing his strength again.

After speaking with Ning Jun for a moment, he was about to fly away through the sky on his sword.

Just then, Wu Xian said, "Wait. Remember, I want exactly a quarter of your sect's assets. If it does not match what I investigate, I will lose my temper."

"Of course, of course." Ning Jun promised Wu Xian with a smile plastered across his face.

Though he had considered falsifying the numbers, he ultimately abandoned the idea.

Since he had made his decision, if he continued wavering back and forth, he might as well have chosen to fight Wu Xian head-on from the beginning.

At least then, he could have earned a reputation for backbone.

On the other side, seeing that Ning Jun had already submitted, Yu Yuanzhen opened his eyes and forced out several words. "Sir, I concede."

"Fine. The conditions will be the same as those for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. No problem?"

"No problem." After saying those words, Yu Yuanzhen seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He visibly aged several years.

Wu Xian waved his hand and lowered him to the ground. At the same time, Yu Yuanzhen took a dragon-shaped jade pendant from his robes.

"This is my personal jade pendant. Please send someone to deliver it to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's outpost in Heaven Dou City. Someone there will send word to my Younger Brother, Yu Luomian."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Dugu Family's steward stepped forward, accepted the jade pendant, and turned to leave the Dugu Residence.

Seeing Yu Yuanzhen and Ning Jun look as though their parents had died, Liu Erlong secretly delighted in her heart.

She was happy whenever those two suffered misfortune.