An Opportunity for Extortion Delivered to Their Door

"Compensation?"

Zhunti's face darkened at Xuan Heng's words as he spoke.

"That's right. Kong Xuan has practiced swordsmanship at Kunlun for ten thousand years and has only just begun to show some progress. Yet because of you two forcing him, he used the Five-Colored Divine Light again, and his ten thousand years of painstaking cultivation were nearly ruined in one stroke."

"And then there's Six Ears, whose situation is even worse. I have taken him in for tens of thousands of years. His Profound Pure Immortal Art was finally about to complete its first section, allowing him to suppress his own divine abilities, but your Western faction pried open his mental defenses, causing his Dao heart to become unstable."

"Besides, you yourselves just said that you delighted at the sight of talent. Then show a little sincerity and offer something to calm my two disciples' fright."

Xuan Heng's expression did not change as he looked at Receiving Guide and Zhunti.

"Senior Brother, are we really as badly off as Master says?"

Below, Six Ears leaned closer to Kong Xuan and asked.

"You little monkey, can't you tell Master is extorting them? Hold it in and put on an act!"

With that, the Five-Colored Divine Light emerged behind Kong Xuan once more. At the same time, the fiery baleful karmic force on his shoulder flickered continuously, and he collapsed to the ground in agony.

Seeing that his senior brother had been so deeply "injured," Six Ears immediately threw himself to the ground as well, rolling around while clutching his ears, his face twisted in pain.

Watching his two disciples perform, Xuan Heng gave an almost imperceptible nod before turning his gaze back to Receiving Guide and Zhunti.

"Hmph! My disciples are already in this state. What else do you two have to say?"

Receiving Guide and Zhunti looked at Kong Xuan and Six Ears below, their eyelids twitching wildly.

The two of them were Quasi-Sages. How could they possibly fail to see that Kong Xuan and Six Ears were putting on an act?

"Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Zhunti leaned close to Receiving Guide and asked.

"What else can we do? We can only accept it." Receiving Guide sighed.

Hearing Receiving Guide's words, Zhunti began to ponder. The West was barren; it had always been their turn to extort the East. When had there ever been a precedent for the East extorting them?

Zhunti's eyes shifted as he looked at Xuan Heng. "Senior Brother Xuan Heng, you know that the West is barren. We have no heavenly treasures to speak of, and our spiritual treasures are pitifully few. As for this gift to calm their fright..."

Xuan Heng was filled with disdain. To protect his own possessions, Zhunti had even started calling him senior brother.

"Of course I know. That is why you should do fewer things in the future that you cannot afford to compensate for. But if you two do not give me an explanation today, do not dream of leaving my Kunlun!"

As he spoke, the Mountain-Suppressing Seal above Xuan Heng's head began to turn once more, while Profound Pure Sword Qi surged from the Calamity Severing Sword at his side.

Receiving Guide's expression changed, and he hurriedly stepped in front of Zhunti. Looking at Xuan Heng, he said, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, what gift to calm their fright do you want?"

"My disciple Six Ears had his Dao heart affected by you two. This humble Daoist wants three Bodhi seeds from your West, for him to calm his mind."

Zhunti's face darkened further at Xuan Heng's words. Bodhi seeds grew from the Western Bodhi Spiritual Root, which produced only one every ten thousand years. They were incomparably precious; Zhunti and Receiving Guide normally could not bear to use them themselves, yet Xuan Heng was demanding three at once.

Without waiting for their answer, Xuan Heng looked toward Kong Xuan again.

"Kong Xuan was forcibly suppressed because you wished to seize his mind, forcing him to activate the Five-Colored Divine Light and suffer the backlash of fiery baleful karmic force. His sword heart has been damaged. I also want a wisp of Seven Treasures Geng Metal Origin Qi for him to temper his sword heart."

Compared to the Bodhi seeds from before, the Seven Treasures Geng Metal Origin Qi struck Zhunti even harder. Origin Qi was different from ordinary treasure qi. It was something stripped from the Dao resonance of the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree itself. Though it would not damage its foundation, it would require long years of nurturing to replenish.

At last, Xuan Heng turned to Receiving Guide.

"Finally, I want one drop of Merit Golden Lotus dew."

Receiving Guide's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. Merit Golden Lotus dew was a drop of merit spiritual dew that the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus could condense only once every thirty thousand years. It could protect one's origin and suppress karmic fire.

With this, Kong Xuan could temporarily suppress the fiery baleful karmic force within his body and no longer be troubled by it for a short time.

After hearing Xuan Heng's demands, Zhunti spoke directly.

"Impossible!"

Xuan Heng's expression remained unchanged.

"Then we keep fighting."

The Calamity Severing Sword rose again.

Anger flared within Zhunti. The Seven Treasures Wonder Tree shone brilliantly, while spiritual power surged around Receiving Guide as well, both prepared to strike.

Just as the two sides were about to clash once more, a sword cry suddenly rang out from the direction of Upper Purity Peak.

The next instant, a surge of sword intent shot into the sky from Upper Purity Peak.

Immediately afterward, the killing intent of the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords faintly emerged from deep within the clouds.

The instant the change on Upper Purity Peak appeared, Receiving Guide and Zhunti, standing opposite Xuan Heng, both underwent a drastic change in expression.

"Tongtian is about to leave seclusion."

Zhunti halted his movements and looked toward Upper Purity Peak. He truly feared Tongtian. During the previous battle in the Chaos, Tongtian had nearly beaten his Seven Treasures Wonder Tree down a grade.

Receiving Guide sighed and looked at Zhunti.

"Sigh, Junior Brother, give it to him. If we drag this out any longer, the two of us will not be able to leave today."

He did not dare gamble. Tongtian was about to emerge from seclusion. If Tongtian came out and saw the two of them trying to secretly take away Xuan Heng's disciples, while also fighting fiercely with Xuan Heng within Kunlun's territory, he would likely be enraged enough to directly set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.

Zhunti remained silent for a long while before finally raising his hand.

Three pale-golden Bodhi seeds flew from his sleeve. Each was covered in fine Dao patterns, and the moment they appeared, more than half the chaotic aura in the valley was washed away.

Then the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree in his hand gave a gentle shake, and a wisp of Geng Metal origin qi slowly drifted out.

Receiving Guide at the side raised his hand as well.

The phantom of a Merit Golden Lotus emerged behind him. A drop of golden lotus dew slowly flew from its heart. Though no larger than a grain of rice, it carried an exceptionally pure aura of merit.

The three spiritual treasures hovered in the air. Receiving Guide looked at Xuan Heng and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, is this enough of a gift to soothe your fright?"

Xuan Heng did not answer. A wisp of Profound Pure Immortal Light flew from his fingertips, drawing the three spiritual treasures before him. The Purifying White Lotus then floated above them, and purifying white light poured down, sweeping over the three treasures again and again. Only after confirming that the two had not secretly left any marks on them did he slowly speak.

"Mm, enough."

Xuan Heng then distributed the items to Six Ears and Kong Xuan. After giving them a few instructions, he turned around and discovered that Receiving Guide and Zhunti were still there.

"Why have you two fellow Daoists not left? Are you waiting for this poor Daoist to invite you into Kunlun for tea?"

Zhunti gave Xuan Heng a deep look.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, this poor Daoist will remember what happened today. Our karmic ties have not yet run their course; there will be another chance for us to meet in the future."

Xuan Heng raised a brow and lifted the Calamity Severing Sword.

"Still want to leave some final words?"

Receiving Guide did not give Zhunti another chance to speak. He directly grabbed him and left Kunlun atop an auspicious cloud.

The moment Receiving Guide and Zhunti left, the sword intent on Upper Purity Peak trembled once more.

Xuan Heng looked up. The ringing of the Green Duckweed Sword gradually faded, and the killing intent of the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords once again sank into the sea of clouds.

"So Third Brother still hasn't emerged from seclusion. Still, we made a killing this time. Come on, Kong Xuan, Six Ears—return to Kunlun with me. Once we're back, I'll settle accounts with you two."