Negotiation

After Jia Lie Jun returned to the Jia Lie Family from the street, he had been waiting for Xun Er to come looking for him. Revealing the Ancient Clan was a decision Jia Lie Jun had made after careful consideration. The Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Family were bitter rivals; since he intended to deal with the Xiao Family, Xun Er could not possibly stand by and do nothing. Once Xun Er stepped in to help the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie Family would undoubtedly be defeated. Therefore, he wanted to use the information he possessed to negotiate with Xun Er and temporarily eliminate this hidden danger. He also knew very clearly that, at this stage, he could not fight Xiao Yan to the death. Otherwise, Xun Er would certainly mobilize her clan's power.

"Miss Xun Er, since you're here, there's no need to hide."

Jia Lie Jun had long guessed that Xun Er would come tonight, so he did not dare sleep. He had no desire to be killed in his sleep.

"It seems Young Master Jia Lie had already guessed that I would come." A voice drifted out from the darkness.

"Of course. On the street today, Miss Xun Er's gaze toward me was far from friendly." Jia Lie Jun reclined in his rocking chair, smiling as he watched Xun Er emerge from the shadows.

"Enough, Young Master Jia Lie. Let us speak plainly. Who exactly are you, and how did you learn of my identity?" Xun Er watched Jia Lie Jun with utter vigilance, golden flames rising within her black pupils.

"Miss Xun Er, do you intend to kill me? But I advise you not to act rashly. Otherwise, your Brother Xiao Yan will be hunted by the Soul Clan." Jia Lie Jun paid no heed to Xun Er's murderous intent. He was completely certain that she would not make a move against him now.

"It seems Young Master Jia Lie's identity is quite extraordinary. But in my view, even if I kill you, I am completely confident that I can keep Brother Xiao Yan safe and sound."

"Is that so? If you do not believe me, you may try. But if I spread the news that the Tou She Ancient God Jade is in the Xiao Family's possession, what do you think the Soul Clan would do? Or does Miss Xun Er believe that your clan would go to war with the Soul Clan for the Xiao Family? Do you think your clansmen care more about the lives of the Xiao Family, or the Tou She Ancient God Jade?" Jia Lie Jun said calmly.

"Then it seems Young Master Jia Lie truly cannot be killed. However, since you lured me here, there must be another important matter. In that case, let us be frank." After thinking it over, Xun Er ultimately decided to give up on killing Jia Lie Jun for the time being. She knew very well that her clan would never go to war with the Soul Clan. Her clansmen cared only about the Tou She Ancient God Jade and had no concern whatsoever for the lives of the Xiao Family.

"Since that is the case, I will state my conditions. They are simple: in the conflict between the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Family, Miss Xun Er may not provide even the slightest bit of assistance. The same will apply to any future struggle between Xiao Yan and me." Jia Lie Jun laid out the conditions he had long considered. This was also the most favorable arrangement he could secure at present. Jia Lie Jun was extremely confident that, without Xun Er's help, he could suppress Xiao Yan so thoroughly that he would be unable to raise his head.

Seeing that Xun Er had yet to respond, Jia Lie Jun continued to provoke her. "What? Could it be that Miss Xun Er is afraid your Brother Xiao Yan cannot defeat me, Jia Lie Jun? If Xiao Yan cannot even defeat me, how could he possibly contend against the prodigies of the entire Dou Qi Continent?"

"It seems Young Master Jia Lie is very confident that you can defeat Brother Xiao Yan without my help. If that is the case, what is the harm in agreeing? I will watch closely and see exactly how you, Jia Lie Jun, are defeated by Brother Xiao Yan."

"Congratulations on reaching an agreement. But let me kindly remind Miss Xun Er of one thing: do not send anyone to kill me. If I die, I believe the news will spread immediately." Jia Lie Jun was very pleased that Xun Er had agreed to his condition, but he would not foolishly take her word for it. If he truly forced the Xiao Family into a desperate situation, Xun Er could not possibly refrain from intervening. Only once Jia Lie Jun possessed enough strength to fear no pursuit from the Ancient Clan could he wipe out the Xiao Family completely. For now, he could only maintain a relatively balanced state.

Hearing Jia Lie Jun's threatening words, Xun Er's expression turned stern. She dearly wished to kill him, for she could sense that the man before her was extremely dangerous and deeply calculating. But she did not dare gamble.

"Miss Xun Er, take care. I won't see you out."

Once Xun Er left, Jia Lie Jun let out a deep breath, his face drenched in sweat. During the negotiation with Xun Er, he had remained on the highest alert. Xun Er had a guard with the cultivation of a Dou Emperor. Against a Dou Emperor, he currently had no ability to resist. Yet he had to negotiate with Xun Er, because whenever someone appeared who could threaten Xiao Yan, Xun Er would certainly deal with them in secret.

"Miss, shall I go eliminate Jia Lie Jun?" In Xun Er's room within the Xiao Family, Ling Ying asked with killing intent written across his face. Jia Lie Jun had threatened his young miss, which infuriated him. A young master from some minor family actually dared threaten the eldest daughter of the Ancient Clan. Yet he also agreed strongly with Jia Lie Jun's words. If Xiao Yan could not even defeat a young master of the Jia Lie Family, what right did he have to contend against the young prodigies of the Central Plains?

"No need. I believe Brother Xiao Yan will certainly defeat him. Besides, he is very clever. He has seized upon my weakness and used Brother Xiao Yan to threaten me. Elder Ling, immediately send someone to investigate whom Jia Lie Jun has been in contact with," Xun Er replied.

Jia Lie Jun took out the Black Iron Block and, after great effort, finally obtained the Mysterious Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique: Suction Palm. Ah, having an old grandpa really is nice. He can hand out Dou Techniques and cultivation methods whenever he likes. I can only scheme and strive for them myself. Jia Lie Jun sighed inwardly.

After obtaining the Dou Technique, Jia Lie Jun familiarized himself with it briefly before falling into a deep sleep. Yet his consciousness entered the Ancestral Talisman Stone's space, where he tirelessly practiced the Dou Technique.

When Jia Lie Jun awoke early the next morning, he felt a piercing ache throughout his entire body. He ordered the servants to prepare a tub of hot water, then took out a small jade-green porcelain bottle and carefully poured out several drops of red liquid. This red liquid had been produced by the Ancestral Stone. Jia Lie Jun jumped into the wooden tub, sat cross-legged, and rested his hands together on his legs. The red liquid submerged the young man's entire body. Before long, waves of steam rose from the tub. Upon closer inspection, one could see wisps of red energy slowly entering Jia Lie Jun's body through his pores, nourishing his bones and washing through his meridians.

I'm about to break through. Jia Lie Jun sensed the bottleneck in his cultivation loosening. He immediately focused his mind and concentrated, absorbing the energy within the liquid as he repeatedly assaulted the bottleneck.

"I've finally broken through—Dou Qi Stage Seven." After his breakthrough, Jia Lie Jun felt refreshed and invigorated. The soreness and exhaustion in his body had long vanished, and his physique had grown even stronger.

At that moment, in Xiao Yan's room within the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan was doing the same thing. The young man sat cross-legged in a wooden tub filled with green liquid, cultivating with full concentration.