Chen Xuan, Master Negotiator

Hongjun had originally believed that everyone besides himself had died in Rahu's self-destruction.

Seeing Yang Mei Ancestor just now had already surprised him, even stirring murderous intent within him. He had wanted to put Yang Mei Ancestor to death.

Yet now, not only was Yang Mei Ancestor alive, but Chen Xuan was also perfectly unharmed. He had even rescued Yin-Yang Ancestor and Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor as well.

When facing Yang Mei Ancestor alone earlier, Hongjun had dared to harbor killing intent. After all, a single Yang Mei Ancestor was still not enough to concern him.

But now, he truly did not dare entertain such thoughts again. He simply was not confident he could defeat Chen Xuan and Yang Mei Ancestor working together.

Left with no choice, Hongjun spoke with a guilty expression. "Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus, that is not quite right. It was not that I did not wish to save you all, but that everything happened far too suddenly."

Seeing Hongjun still trying to explain himself, Chen Xuan waved him off. "Forget it. Better a dead fellow Daoist than a dead me. There is nothing unreasonable about that."

"But back then, Fellow Daoist Hongjun promised me that after killing Rahu, you would hand over the Four Swords of Execution and the array diagram to me."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan held out his hand before Hongjun. This left Hongjun somewhat troubled.

Because he had been focused solely on fleeing for his life just now, he had not had time to collect Rahu's treasures.

After all, Hongjun had believed that everyone else would die anyway, and that he could gather the treasures afterward.

So how could Hongjun possibly produce the Four Swords of Execution and the array diagram now? He could only speak awkwardly.

"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus. I shall go retrieve the Four Swords of Execution and the array diagram at once."

As he spoke, he prepared to head west, but Yang Mei Ancestor stopped him. "Fellow Daoist Hongjun, the Immortal-Exterminating Sword is in my possession."

"Since Fellow Daoist Hongjun promised to give it to Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus as the prize, I naturally cannot keep it for myself."

As he spoke, Yang Mei Ancestor presented the Immortal-Exterminating Sword to Chen Xuan.

Naturally, Chen Xuan did not stand on ceremony and immediately accepted the Immortal-Exterminating Sword.

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword is in my hands. With this Immortal-Exterminating Sword, that makes two. Fellow Daoist Hongjun need only find the remaining two swords and the array diagram."

At this time, Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor and Yin-Yang Ancestor had finally recovered some of their vitality.

They simultaneously took out the Immortal-Trapping Sword and the Immortal-Slaughtering Sword, then spoke to Chen Xuan.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus, for risking your life to save us. Please accept these two treasured swords as our thanks, Fellow Daoist Chen Xuan."

As they spoke, they did not forget to glare fiercely at Hongjun, expressing their dissatisfaction at his refusal to save them.

Chen Xuan nodded and accepted the Immortal-Trapping Sword and Immortal-Slaughtering Sword without ceremony. Then he said,

"In that case, the karma between us is settled. From this day onward, we owe each other nothing."

The moment Chen Xuan said this, Hongjun instantly sensed that something was wrong. But by the time he wanted to speak, it was already too late.

He could only go search for the Execution Array Diagram, hoping to satisfy Chen Xuan.

However, Hongjun searched the entire west several times over, yet still failed to find the Execution Array Diagram. He could only return to Chen Xuan dejectedly.

He said, "Rahu's self-destruction must have destroyed the Execution Array Diagram. Otherwise, there is no way I would have been unable to find it."

Chen Xuan sighed after hearing this. "Without the Execution Array Diagram, the Four Swords of Execution are merely four top-grade innate spirit treasures."

"That falls far short of what Fellow Daoist Hongjun promised me. Shouldn't you offer something else to compensate for my losses?"

The moment Chen Xuan finished speaking, Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor and Yin-Yang Ancestor both nodded. "That is indeed reasonable."

Even Yang Mei Ancestor nodded, showing his support for Chen Xuan's suggestion.

Yang Mei Ancestor was no fool. He knew that Hongjun wanted to kill him. If he wished to survive, he would have to flee into the depths of Chaos.

But Chen Xuan was different. Chen Xuan had saved Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor and Yin-Yang Ancestor in a moment of crisis, which showed that he had no ambition to dominate the Primordial World.

And if Yang Mei Ancestor chose Chen Xuan's side, Chen Xuan's side would have four Hunyuan Golden Immortals. Even if Hongjun wanted to do anything, he would have to think twice.

Seeing that the four of them had boarded the same ship, Hongjun's heart trembled. If he were not worried that he could not defeat them, he would have acted now and wiped them all out.

Left with no choice, he said to Chen Xuan, "Then what sort of treasure does Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus believe I should offer as compensation?"

Chen Xuan answered without hesitation. "I noticed that jade pendant above Fellow Daoist Hongjun's head earlier. It looked quite good, and it also felt strangely familiar."

"If Fellow Daoist Hongjun is willing to part with it, then give me that jade pendant. As for these four swords, Fellow Daoist Hongjun may take them back."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan handed the Four Swords of Execution to Hongjun, as though he had already made up his mind to demand the Fortune Jade Disk from him.

How could Hongjun possibly give the Fortune Jade Disk to Chen Xuan? It was the foundation of his very existence. He would have to rely on the Fortune Jade Disk to attain sainthood in the future.

Thus, he immediately shook his head. "The Fortune Jade Disk is my innate companion spirit treasure. Forgive me, but I cannot part with it."

"Please choose another treasure, Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus. Even if I do not possess it, I will certainly seek it out for you by every possible means."

Little did Hongjun know that he had already fallen into Chen Xuan's trap. Chen Xuan had never intended to make Hongjun hand over the Fortune Jade Disk.

Instead, he had employed the famed House-Demolition Effect from later generations. He first proposed a demand the other party could not accept, creating a psychological suggestion.

Then he would lower his demands, causing the other party to accept them instinctively, thus achieving his true goal.

Chen Xuan had never truly wanted the Fortune Jade Disk. To him, it was absolutely dispensable.

After all, the three thousand Great Dao laws engraved upon Chen Xuan's foundation were far more complete than the laws on Hongjun's Fortune Jade Disk.

Even so, in order to bring the House-Demolition Effect to its fullest extent, Chen Xuan still revealed an expression of great reluctance.

Only after a moment did he sigh and say, "Since that is the case, I cannot take what another cherishes. How about Fellow Daoist Hongjun searches for the array diagram again? Perhaps you might find it by chance."

Hongjun gritted his teeth in fury. If I could find it, I would have found it long ago. Why would I still be wasting words with you here?

"I fear I cannot find the Execution Array Diagram. Fellow Daoist Azure Lotus should consider what kind of treasure you require from me instead."

Chen Xuan could not help but laugh inwardly. As if you could possibly find it. It has long since entered my Fortune Space.