Chapter Seventy-Six: Conditions

“So, what brings you here today?”

“I sense no murderous intent from you.”

Li Ju folded his arms across his chest, eyelids lowered ever so slightly.

“I originally came out here to kill you. But before I could even seek you out, you joined the Demon Sect. That alone made me abandon the idea,” the old man said, leaning on a worn wooden staff, his back hunched and his words slow and deliberate.

“You must have one of the Demon Sect’s divine weapons in your possession, don’t you? Based on the demonic arts you practice, the weapon you hold must either be the Bat Soul, which corresponds to the Ghost Bat Technique, or the Poisonous Illusion Disk, which matches the Hundred Venoms Diamond Body.”

Seeing Li Ju remain silent, Ling Yuan continued on his own accord.

“Regardless of which weapon it is, with a divine weapon in your hand, you are no longer someone I could deal with alone. That’s why I gave up on killing you, and decided instead to meet with you.”

“To meet with me?”

“I’ve killed no small number of your Seven-Three Gate’s people, and you sent someone to cripple my senior brother’s martial arts. Do you really think there’s anything left for us to discuss?” Li Ju sneered.

“Considering your journey and what you’ve accomplished to this day, your strength alone marks you as someone exceedingly clever. And for those who are clever, hatred never truly exists between them,” Ling Yuan replied, shaking his head.

“Is your Seven-Three Gate clever, then?” Li Ju shot back.

“Perhaps, and perhaps not,” Ling Yuan answered.

“My purpose in coming today is for the Twelve Crimson Fangs and the Withered Leaf Sword in your possession.”

“Alas, the younger generations have failed, losing the divine weapons passed down from our founder. As an elder, all I can do is clean up their mess and recover what was lost,” Ling Yuan sighed softly.

“The Twelve Crimson Fangs and the Withered Leaf Sword?” Li Ju mused. “Those are hardly trifles. What do you intend to offer in exchange?”

Li Ju did not flatly refuse Ling Yuan, but instead asked for his terms.

“How about the Sword Flight Technique?”

Bang!

As soon as Ling Yuan finished speaking, a terrifying aura swept across the room.

Crack… crack…

Cracks snaked across the wooden beams of the loft, and even the floorboards buckled and splintered under the pressure of the force.

Buzz!

In an instant, Meng He’s face turned deathly pale under the oppressive aura. The jade plaque at his waist glimmered, and a faint green veil appeared, swirling around him to shield him from the overwhelming pressure.

“How… how can there be such a gap?” Meng He gritted his teeth, staring at the man who exuded such unrestrained force that he bit his lip until it bled.

As the current Young Lord of the Seven-Three Gate, Meng He had always seen himself as the leader of his generation in the martial world—the foremost among the young. Not even the four great disciples of the Demon Sect were worth his notice, and as for the legendary Li Ju, once Meng He learned of his background, he dismissed him as nothing more than a lucky youth, whose temporary strength was due to sheer fortune.

Meng He believed that with his own unparalleled talent, a few more years of cultivation would see him surpass Li Ju easily.

It was precisely this sense of superiority, combined with faith in his sect’s strength, that emboldened Meng He to appear before Li Ju as the one who had crippled Li Ju’s senior brother.

Yet now, realizing that without the aid of a divine weapon he could barely withstand Li Ju’s pressure, his confidence was badly shaken.

“No matter—it’s just that his talent has run its course, while my future is still bright. Soon, I will surpass him,” Meng He comforted himself inwardly.

At that moment, Ling Yuan stepped forward, positioning himself before Meng He to shield him from the oppressive aura.

“Thank you, Grandmaster.”

Meng He put away his jade plaque, bowed to Ling Yuan, and finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Though the jade plaque could fend off Li Ju’s pressure, each use—at his level—consumed a great deal of his vital essence, and overuse could damage his very foundation.

Yet as he offered thanks, Meng He failed to notice Ling Yuan shake his head slightly.

This generation’s Young Lord—he is lacking.

Ling Yuan thought to himself.

“You wish to barter with the Sword Flight Sect’s legacy in exchange for my cooperation? The Seven-Three Gate certainly knows how to bargain,” Li Ju said, his gaze deeply fixed on Ling Yuan.

“The Sword Flight Sect has been annihilated by the Demon Sect. Its name no longer exists in the martial world. Only we of the Seven-Three Gate possess the Sword Flight Technique now, so it is not unreasonable to treat it as our own,” Ling Yuan replied, noticing the surging aura from Li Ju and abruptly changing tack.

“But if the Sword Flight Technique does not satisfy you, my Seven-Three Gate can add to the offer.”

“Five rare treasures capable of increasing inner strength, a legacy technique that can be cultivated to the Minor Three Essence realm, and—”

“My Seven-Three Gate promises to withdraw entirely from the Chen Dynasty’s court, never again interfering in its affairs.”

Ling Yuan spoke slowly.

“Lord Li Ju, you have recently taken control of someone in the Chen royal family—presumably to seize authority over the court. If you return the Twelve Crimson Fangs and the Withered Leaf Sword to us, the Seven-Three Gate will withdraw all our agents from the court and hand control to you.”

“Recently, my people observed that the Demon Sect’s influence at court has also receded. That must be the result of a deal you made with them.”

“I believe that once both the Demon Sect and my Seven-Three Gate withdraw from the court, the remaining factions will be no obstacle to your complete control,” Ling Yuan said, his dim old eyes fixed on Li Ju.

“I didn’t expect even your Seven-Three Gate to know where I’m currently residing within the royal household,” Li Ju replied, a smile suddenly curling his lips.

“The commotion you caused in the palace not long ago was impossible to ignore. No matter how we tried, we could not overlook your presence,” Ling Yuan said, shaking his head.

Li Ju understood—he was referring to the incident when, gravely injured, he fed on the prisoners in the dungeons, causing quite a stir.

For the Demon Sect and the Seven-Three Gate, who had all but seized control of the Chen Dynasty’s court, even such a small incident was a significant disturbance.