The three chatted for a while longer. At last, Xie An said to Wu Zhangkong and Long Bing, "It's getting late. You two can head back."
"Go back and tell each other what's happened over the past few years."
"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you."
With that, Xie An disappeared.
Wu Zhangkong and Long Bing exchanged a glance. Then they bowed in the direction Xie An had gone and said, "Thank you, Temple Master."
Hand in hand, they returned to their dormitory and told each other about the past few years.
Tang Sect Headquarters.
"Zang Xin, come out and see me."
An invisible wave of spiritual power enveloped Tang Sect Headquarters. This spiritual force was exceptionally powerful and precisely targeted.
Before long, a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties walked out of Tang Sect Headquarters.
The man was handsome, with a distinctive, mature charm.
Seeing Xie An, the man offered a polite bow and said,
"May I ask what brings the War God Temple Master to visit?"
Xie An returned the greeting. "I wouldn't come without good reason."
"Since I'm here, I naturally have something important to discuss."
The visitor was Affectionate Douluo Zang Xin, deputy master of Douluo Hall.
Ruthless Douluo was guarding the Abyss Plane and was also serving as acting Sect Master of the Tang Sect.
"Since that's the case, Temple Master, please come in."
Zang Xin gestured for Xie An to enter so they could talk in private. Xie An didn't stand on ceremony and stepped inside.
A pot of tea was soon brewed, and Zang Xin poured them both a cup.
Zang Xin smiled and spoke first. "May I ask what brings you here, Temple Master?"
Xie An took a sip of tea and said, "I want the Tang Sect to make the Mysterious Heaven Skill public."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. But Zang Xin quickly composed himself and asked, "What do you mean, Temple Master?"
Xie An set down his teacup, his smile fading. "Exactly what I said. I want the Tang Sect to lift the restrictions on the Mysterious Heaven Skill and let ordinary people cultivate it."
Zang Xin's expression had turned cold. "Temple Master, you must take responsibility for your words. If you take back what you just said, we can still have a pleasant conversation."
Xie An remained calm. "This is the Council Chairman's and my decision. I'm here representing the Federation."
Zang Xin's aura faltered, but he soon gave a cold snort. A powerful presence burst from him and enveloped Xie An.
Xie An felt Heavenly Phoenix Douluo appear before him, asking in a coquettish voice, "Temple Master, why are you being so overbearing?"
Then Dark Phoenix Douluo seemed to appear before him, weeping in his arms.
Watching the War God Temple Master, who seemed to have fallen under his control, Zang Xin shook his head and said, "The Mysterious Heaven Skill is a secret art never taught outside the Tang Sect. I'm sorry."
Just as Zang Xin was about to get up, a voice suddenly spoke.
"I've been meaning to say, this tea is good. When was it harvested?"
Zang Xin stiffened. He turned around and saw Xie An sipping his tea, smiling at him.
"You..." Zang Xin sounded uncertain, but he quickly regained his composure.
"This tea comes from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It's produced in limited quantities each year."
"Each year, thirty percent goes to the Federation, thirty percent to Shrek, twenty percent to the various branch halls, and the headquarters keeps the remaining twenty percent."
Xie An nodded.
"Speaking of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I'd also like a Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew."
"One that's only tens of thousands of years old will do. It doesn't need to be a hundred thousand years old."
"So, Sect Master, what do you say?"
"Don't worry. We won't leave you empty-handed. We'll provide you with suitable compensation."
"And if the Tang Sect announces this together with my War God Temple, you'll gain plenty of prestige too, won't you?"
By the end, Xie An's voice had turned cold. "I hope the Tang Sect Sect Master gives this careful consideration. I'm here representing the Federation."
"Today, I'm determined to obtain the Mysterious Heaven Skill."
"Cooperating sooner will be better for both the Federation and the Tang Sect. Otherwise..."
"The Tang Sect Sect Master should know that the Mysterious Heaven Skill is no longer hard to find on the black market, right?"
Zang Xin's expression shifted repeatedly. At last, he said, "Please wait here, War God Temple Master. I need to discuss this with someone."
Xie An's smile returned. He nodded and said, "Go ahead. I have plenty of time."
Zang Xin left with a heavy heart and immediately contacted Ruthless Douluo Cao Dezhi through his Soul Guidance Communication Device.
He repeatedly told Cao Dezhi that the War God Temple Master had come to the Tang Sect and made an unreasonable demand.
At last, Cao Dezhi asked, "From the way the War God Temple Master looks, is he determined to get his way today?"
"Yes. From what he said, he'll make the Mysterious Heaven Skill public today whether we agree or not."
"It seems he came to inform me, not to negotiate."
A long silence followed.
"Forget it, Affectionate. Agree to the War God Temple Master's demand."
"Also, give him the Tang Sect's five-hundred-century-old Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew."
"But..." Affectionate Douluo started to say, but the person on the other end continued.
"After all, the Tang Sect belongs to the Federation. The Federation already has a poor opinion of Shrek Academy."
"Besides, from what you've said, he'll spread the Mysterious Heaven Skill whether we agree or not."
"I've also asked the Federal Council Chairman. He said the Federation would support the War God Temple Master's actions without reservation."
"If we work with the Federation now, we can still earn a good reputation. After all, this is a major benefit to everyone."
"If we wait, someone else will get the credit, and we'll only antagonize the Federation."
Affectionate Douluo fell silent. At last, he said, "I understand."
"..."
Xie An was enjoying the pot of tea in the Tang Sect's reception room when he soon saw Sect Master Zang Xin approach with a broad smile.
"Well, Sect Master of the Tang Sect, what have you decided?"
The Tang Sect Sect Master kept smiling. "I've thought it over. Even if the Federation had no intention of doing so, the Tang Sect would eventually make public something that benefits Soul Masters across the continent."
"So the Tang Sect agrees?"
"Of course. I would never refuse such a meritorious undertaking."
"Good. It's a pleasure doing business with you."
Their hands met in a firm handshake.
Several days later, the Federation's War God Temple and the Tang Sect jointly announced that the Mysterious Heaven Skill would be made public to help the Soul Master World advance in its cultivation.
"Would the Tang Sect really be so generous as to publish its sect's cultivation art?"
"Brother, you don't understand. The War God Temple Master must be responsible for making this happen."
"What makes you say that?"
"How many things has the War God Temple Master done since taking office? Surely you know."
"That can't be right. The Tang Sect has always developed Soul Tools that benefit the public. This time, it feels like the Tang Sect took the initiative."
"Then why didn't the Tang Sect announce it on its own? Why did it have to announce it with the War God Temple?"
"..."
For a time, Soul Masters across the land debated the matter.
"Reporting to the Temple Master: By making the cultivation art public, our War God Temple—and the Federation as a whole—have gained much greater recognition and support among the people."
"The people are praising your wisdom and might."
"Also, the Tang Sect Sect Master sent a five-hundred-century-old Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and five catties of excellent tea."
Xie An nodded, but noticed that the person reporting to him seemed to have more to say.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
The messenger straightened and replied, "The Star Luo Empire's visiting delegation arrived in the Federation several days ago. It's led by a Limit Douluo. The Council Chairman asks you to keep a close eye on them."
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