The scene fell deathly silent.
Li Zhengfa remained perfectly composed, while Zhou You toyed with his wine cup, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Moonlight shifted across the courtyard, setting the shadows of the trees swaying. Yet apart from the wind and rustling leaves, not a sound came from the table.
Even their breathing seemed to stop.
Then, with tension on the verge of snapping, Zhou You suddenly spoke.
"You mean I'm the one who..."
But—
Before he could finish, Li Zhengfa stopped him.
"Don't say it. That would spoil the fun. Just know that my ultimate goal is the same as yours."
Zhou You closed his eyes.
When he looked at Li Zhengfa again a long while later, only caution remained in his gaze.
"Several groups came to see me today. The first was a group of ordinary sects. They weren't asking for much, just hoping to get on my good side... The others were from the Thirty-Six Sects, testing whether they could win me over... As for True Person Chang Qing, he came expressly to propose an alliance... So."
He raised his head. At some point, his eyes had turned into the golden pupils of a heavenly dragon.
"What is it you want from me?"
At the same time, Li Zhengfa's bodyguard stepped forward.
A scorching heat like molten lava instantly engulfed the courtyard. It seemed that a Dharma Realm capable of burning everything to ash would unfold at any moment.
But then—
Li Zhengfa raised a hand.
Compared with the two facing off, he was utterly mortal. Yet the moment he raised his hand, the bodyguard hesitated for a few breaths before obediently stepping back.
With the bodyguard withdrawn, Myriad Fathoms, which had drawn itself from its sheath, returned on its own.
Only then did Li Zhengfa speak.
"As