Negotiation Objectives, News from Another Front

Two days later.

East of Dragonhead Island, on a previously barren unnamed island, earth-element cultivators used spells to raise a gray-white building in the center of the island. From afar, it looked like a square seal set upon the reefs. Simple eaves extended from the building's north and south sides, beneath which stood the respective flags of Wanxuan and the Dragon Palace.

Using the temporary building as a boundary, Wanxuan's side formed up south of it. A special unit composed entirely of Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood in neat ranks in the open space beneath the eaves, every one of them dressed in dark-gray standard combat uniforms with standardized magical artifacts at their waists.

Not far behind them stood several sentries wearing the regular uniforms of Prefectural Soldier officers. Their positions appeared casual, but they had in fact sealed off every possible route of intrusion.

The Dragon Palace envoys' guard formation on the north side of the building was equally prepared. Dozens of Aquatic Clan soldiers, transformed into humanoid forms and clad in deep-blue scale armor, lined up beneath the eaves. The blades of their standard long halberds glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Behind the guards, several larger Water Demons crouched atop the reefs in half-demon forms, their vertical pupils occasionally sweeping over the Wanxuan cultivators opposite them.

The two forces faced each other from across the building, the atmosphere taut but orderly. Both sides were carrying out a ritual display of deterrence.

At the center of the building stood a long dark wooden table, its surface polished smooth and even. Several wooden chairs were arranged along each side. Wanxuan's seats were on the south side of the table, while the Dragon Palace's were on the north.

Wang Lu sat in the middle of Wanxuan's side, with Yang Wenqing on his