Arc 13: Wild Beast Plains | Chapter 227: Negotiation
Translator: Lynn
The youth clad in silver robes spoke nonchalantly, “The younger generation is Xuan Li, the nineteenth son of the contemporary Emperor Yan of the Dayan Empire, bestowed with the title Tianjin by his father.”
The colossal beast snorted, “Your name, this king have never heard of it before, but there is a boy named Xuan Yuan who is quite famous; I don’t know how he is related to you?”
The smile on the silver-clad young man’s face froze, and then his eyes grew colder, “Xuan Yuan is the thirty-first younger brother. Could it be that Senior King Zun knows him?”
The giant beast glanced at him and said, “I haven’t seen him before. But he, a mere junior, passed on his name to my monster clan, so this king has heard a little bit about it.”
The silver-clad youth breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
To elaborate, the Dayan Empire’s throne changes every five thousand years. During Emperor Yan’s reign, past emperors recruited female cultivators with exceptional aptitude for their harem, giving birth to numerous princes who were meticulously groomed to bolster the royal family’s power.
While the royal family enjoyed more resources, the competition among the princes was equally intense. According to the royal family’s rules, only Golden Core stage princes could be titled “Prince.” Those who made significant contributions could be granted fiefdoms based on their merits, receiving adoration from a land or even a county—a prestigious honor.
Those who failed to reach the golden core stage would remain ordinary princes for life, lacking more than routine resources. Despite their noble status, the resources they received were only equivalent to those of direct disciples from major sects in the Eastern Region, not even reaching core disciple status.
This silver-clad youth, Xuan Li, was among countless princes. His aptitude was considered average, and he faced suppression from many elders since birth. His name also carried a derogatory meaning; the Li from Li Zhe is often used for worms.
It was evident that Emperor Yan didn’t harbor high expectations for him. However, as Xuan Li grew, he developed versatile skills and, leveraging his mother’s family connections, attracted many skilled individuals to work for him. Eventually, he earned the title of county king from his father, instilling confidence in his potential for greatness.
However, shortly after achieving the golden core stage, the emperor’s thirty-first son was born. This son exhibited extraordinary aptitude, with a dragon chant vision upon birth, ranking first among many princes. Emperor Yan, who had initially shown some approval toward Xuan Li, shifted his focus to this newly-born son, naming him “Xuan Yuan” after the most powerful emperor in ancient times. This signaled high expectations.
Xuan Yuan did not disappoint, swiftly advancing through the stages with the support of resources and reaching the peak of the golden core late stage within a few decades. By the age of eighty, he surpassed all on the Tianlong list, dominating with unparalleled power that even rivaled Nascent Soul monks.
Compared to Xuan Yuan, Xuan Li’s aptitude and status in Emperor Yan’s heart were incomparable. Despite other princes being more powerful, Xuan Li held a special place in his heart for Xuan Yuan due to the latter’s exceptional achievements since birth.
With these reflections, Xuan Li couldn’t disclose the details to others, but the mention of Xuan Yuan by the beast king he sought to win over caused a momentary displeasure. Nevertheless, he dared not show dissatisfaction with this old monster of the beast clan, comparable to the Divine Soul Formation stage cultivator. Instead, he stated plainly, “This junior has a plan and wishes to invite Senior King to join us.”
The giant beast shook its tail, snorting coldly, “The human race is cunning; this king has never dealt with the human race.”
Upon sensing the rejection, Xuan Li remained unfazed, continuing with a smile, “I heard that Senior King Zun captured the fox king of Lingtu Mountain, and that fox king happened to possess a map of Tianlan’s secret treasure… I wonder if this news is true?”
The giant beast’s eyes flashed fiercely, but it declared, “Nonsense, nonsense!”
Among the monsters, with only a few exceptions that display cunning, most lack expertise in scheming. This eighth-level monster beast is no different. Hence, Xuanli and the others promptly discerned its intention to depart.
Observing the imminent eruption of the giant beast, Xuan Li didn’t hesitate and immediately remarked, “This junior’s intention is to convey that I also possess a fragment of a map, and I wish to discuss matters with the king!”
The giant beast halted its menacing movement, its imposing demeanor consolidating.
Subsequently, Xuan Li continued, “I’ve heard that dealing with Jiuxuan Meihu can be quite challenging, given his peculiar supernatural abilities that make it difficult to confront him head-on. However, this junior has brought an individual who can resolve this issue for Senior Zun Wang.”
This time, the giant beast truly showed signs of being intrigued.
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Upon hearing the disclosed secrets, Xu Ziqing confirmed that Jiuxuan Meihu had deliberately leaked the information. Now, it was time for Jiuxuan Meihu to reveal his true purpose.
Jiuxuan Meihu stated, “As long as you can take me away, I am willing to share the map with you two.”
In response, Xu Ziqing, harboring suspicions, raised his concerns, “There is a saying, ‘If you are not of my race, your heart must be different.’ However, you, being a monster with a fondness for seducing humans, make it hard for me to believe. Although I am also attracted to the map, caution is warranted.”
Jiuxuan Meihu, eyebrows raised, responded, “Cooperating with Zun Wang might yield an unknown number of treasures from this fragmented map. If I share them with the likes of them, what share will I get? It will differ significantly from yours. The treasures suited for human monks will be yours, and those for the beast race will be mine. I can monopolize everything that is beneficial and not let others gain an advantage. Moreover…” He sneered, “The king has threatened me to this extent; I am the king of the clan after all. Even if I am slightly weaker than him, do I deserve to be humiliated like this?”
Despite his capricious nature, it was all due to his own choices and preferences. Why should he endure such treatment now? Additionally, his fox family, cultivating lust and nourishment, was weak, with him being the only seventh-level monster among them. When captured by King Zun, he sent a message, warning against venturing deep into the wild beast plain to ensure the group’s survival. Even if King Zun did not kill him outright, he would eventually find a way to escape. Hearing this, Xu Ziqing observed Jiuxuan Meihu’s expression but found nothing amiss. Nonetheless, he remained vigilant and glanced at Yun Lie.
“What are your thoughts, Shixiong?”
Yun Lie bluntly stated, “I won’t allow it.”
Her refusal was straightforward.
Understanding her stance, Xu Ziqing looked at Jiuxuan Meihu, his expression growing more distant, “Since Shixiong has spoken…”
Interrupting him, Jiuxuan Meihu said, “Your brother practices the way of ruthless killing swords, and a demon fox like me, stirring up emotions and desires, is someone he must eliminate. It’s natural for him not to associate with me. But since you have a deep affection for your Shixiong, wouldn’t you want to help him?”
Xu Ziqing was taken aback, “…help?”
Jiuxuan Meihu smiled and continued, “If I’m not mistaken, your senior brother not only practices peculiar swordsmanship but also refines the way of Golden Metal, using it as the foundation of his swordsmanship. If I were to say that there is a piece of Golden Metal essence hidden in the location indicated on the map I possess, wouldn’t you be tempted?”
This revelation did indeed pique Xu Ziqing’s interest. After accidentally consuming the essence of Ethereal Wood, its pure Qi had remained dormant in his body, aiding his rapid progression. However, the Golden Metal essence was something highly coveted by metal cultivators. Xu Ziqing understood the tremendous benefits it could offer to his senior brother. Contemplating the potential gains, he hesitated.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xu Ziqing turned to Yun Lie, “Shixiong, Golden Metal essence is exceedingly rare.” He had promised his senior brother to find a rare sword in the world. This opportunity to explore a secluded treasure could be the key.
And there are treasures that are highly beneficial to senior brother. Even with a 30% chance, it’s worth a try. Besides, the secret treasure has been passed down from ancient times, potentially containing ancient spiritual grass and plants. Currently, he has only obtained a few primary trees and not a single secondary tree. Acquiring more could further his cultivation. Otherwise, Rongjin’s dominance would make the wood energy in his body imbalanced. After careful consideration, he had no choice but to trust the demon fox, at least for the time being.
With these thoughts, Xu Ziqing, without avoiding the fox king’s scrutiny, said straightforwardly, “Once the matter is resolved and Shixiong’s cultivation has significantly improved, we can deal with the demon fox anytime. For now, let’s make this deal to avoid missing the opportunity.”
Yun Lie’s gaze shifted slightly, and he finally nodded, “Fine.”
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