206: Chapter 81 Ping’an Persuades the Artifact Refining Immortal_2 206: Chapter 81 Ping’an Persuades the Artifact Refining Immortal_2 Seeing Ningning Mu somewhat nervous, Li Ping’an squeezed her palm and had her follow behind him.
He then led her around the edge of the great hall, through the corridor behind the central hall, and into the immortal power barrier set up by Xu Sheng.
Their first hand-holding came to an end at this point.
At the moment his father spoke, Li Ping’an already had a clue.
His father asking him to come over meant that Senior Xu had made a decision, and it leaned towards continuing the cooperation with Wanyun Sect.
No sooner had Li Ping’an and Ningning Mu reached the barrier than the old Immortal Xu greeted them with a smile, even having someone specifically move over two chairs.
The more than a hundred Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals from Yuan Sect either stood or sat, forming a ‘门’ character;
Li Ping’an sat at the opening of the ‘门’ character, with Ningning Mu standing behind him with her hands behind her back, chest thrust out, eyes empty, not taking a seat alongside him.
“Senior,” Li Ping’an asked with a smile, “What matter do you have for calling me over at such a time?”
Xu Sheng sighed and said in a low voice, “Ping’an, you have been clever since you were a child…
Ahem, Ping’an, you are your father’s strategist, and this is well known throughout Wanyun Sect, so today I am not going to beat around the bush with you.”
One of the old Heavenly Immortals heaved a sigh and said slowly:
“Yuan Sect has been declining day by day over the last ten thousand years, with fewer and fewer Qi Cultivators seeking our services to refine Spiritual Treasures and Immortal Treasures.
“Apart from Artifact Refining, we are not skilled in other trades, and we have also missed the best opportunity to establish the Immortal Dynasty.
Now there are no gaps left in the southern and central parts of East Continent.
“Now, Forge-Heaven Gate is willing to take us in, which, for us, is an opportunity to change the fate of our sect…
The disciples of the sect will no longer have to worry about their livelihood and can focus solely on cultivation.”
Xu Sheng spoke solemnly, “It’s definitely not as wonderful as Forge-Heaven Gate makes it out to be, Elder Wang is too optimistic.”
The Immortals present looked towards Li Ping’an.
How could Li Ping’an not know that Yuan Sect actually wanted to charge Wanyun Sect a higher price?
Just when the Immortals from Yuan Sect thought Li Ping’an would explain how the first branch of Castcloud Hall would become profitable, Li Ping’an naturally remarked:
“This is a good thing.
Forge-Heaven Gate is the third largest sect, powerful and strong, surely capable of sheltering the Immortals of Yuan Sect.
“It is just a change of name, as I see it.
It’s nothing serious.
“Not to mention, in the cultivation world of East Continent over the recent two to three thousand years, how many Loose Cultivators even recognize the name Yuan Sect?”
At these words, the Immortals of Yuan Sect were somewhat embarrassed and a bit annoyed.
Ningning Mu was somewhat shocked herself, barely restraining herself from tugging at Li Ping’an’s Daoist robe.
Li Ping’an chuckled and continued:
“Senior Xu, I am offering this advice based on the brotherly bond between our two sects.
“I understand that you all value the name Yuan Sect greatly, care deeply about the Taoist lineage, cultivation techniques, and every bit of scenery here.
“But joining Forge-Heaven Gate is indeed the most prudent path.
“Look at our Wanyun Sect, we’ve just started to make Spirit Stones, and immediately we have attracted trouble from a major sect like the Sea Watch Sect.
We are not afraid, but it would be quite troublesome.
“We would prefer not to worsen our relationship with Forge-Heaven Gate today, especially since that is a sect we truly cannot afford to fight against.”
After speaking, Li Ping’an stood up and bowed, then turned to leave.
Just as Xu Sheng was about to speak to detain him, two Elders suddenly stood up almost simultaneously and said:
“Master, Young Friend Ping’an makes a good point!”
“Yes Master, if you do not wish to lose the name Yuan Sect, we could simply move our mountain gate next to Forge-Heaven Gate, it’s just a matter of moving mountains and reclaiming seas.”
Xu Sheng glared at the two middle-aged looking Elders.
Li Ping’an stopped in his tracks and lifted his eyebrows slightly at Ningning Mu.
Ningning Mu suddenly thought of the words her senior brother had said before, her peach-blossom eyes full of admiration.
They had lured out the internal supporters of Forge-Heaven Gate so easily!
Li Ping’an turned around, his eyebrows and eyes smiling, the corners of his mouth lifted up, his tall figure exuding a confidence he had not shown before.
He said with a smile, “Senior Xu, everyone, there are two more things I forgot to mention, may I add them?”
Xu Sheng looked complexly at Li Ping’an, as if he could see a fox’s tail emerging from behind Li Ping’an.
Xu Sheng nodded but turned his head and scolded:
“You two good-for-nothings, are you trying to anger me to death!
Do you know what Forge-Heaven Gate wants us for!”
After speaking, Xu Sheng waved his hand, signaling for Li Ping’an to speak.
Li Ping’an performed a Daoist salute, his gaze sweeping around the room, and said with a smile:
“Senior Xu Sheng suddenly called me inside because, previously at the East Sea’s Sea Watch Pavilion, while I was drinking and chatting with Senior Xu Sheng, he taught me the secret techniques of artifact refining and mentioned to me many things about this place.
“Many words, Senior Xu Sheng found hard to say himself, yet he wanted me, a junior, to speak them.
“The principle is actually very simple.
Forge-Heaven Gate is neither about extending a helping hand in times of distress nor about being generous with wealth; they want to annex Yuan Sect because they see the value behind Yuan Sect.
“What the value of Yuan Sect is, I’m sure everyone here can see.
I will just mention three doubts.”
Li Ping’an slowly paced, his clear voice echoing within the barrier:
“First, after the disciples of Yuan Sect join Forge-Heaven Gate, whether they will receive their normal monthly supply from within Forge-Heaven Gate, and whether the disciples of Forge-Heaven Gate will be restricted from demeaning and belittling all of you esteemed friends who are dependent on others.
“Second, Forge-Heaven Gate will surely calculate an account, which is how much it costs to maintain each disciple of Yuan Sect every month, and how much spirit stones the disciples of Yuan Sect can earn, balancing the two, at the very least they cannot be losing money.
“Third, what Forge-Heaven Gate values the most is still the reputation of the venerable Senior Xu Sheng.
I’ll say something offensive, but if in the future there’s no one who can take over from Senior Xu Sheng and become a renowned artifact refiner in the East Continent, then how will Yuan Sect fare?
“These three points were not only Senior Xu Sheng’s original worries but are also my current concerns.
“As for our Wanyun Sect…
We actually don’t care either way; we are indeed on good terms with all of you, but we will not use this friendship to coerce you.
“No matter who Wanyun Sect collaborates with, the branches of Castcloud Hall can be established.
“Of course, personally, I would very much like Yuan Sect to collaborate with us, because my father has invested a lot of passion into this matter, and I’m worried that if he doesn’t get a response, he will feel somewhat downhearted.
“This is also the reason I’ve said so much to all of you.”
Li Ping’an performed a Daoist salute and, together with Ningning Mu, turned and left.
One of the elders couldn’t help calling out, “Young friend Ping’an…”
“No need to call,” Xu Sheng sighed, “Aren’t you ashamed enough?
Such a simple truth, and they just had to argue black and white, to the point where we needed a junior to come and enlighten us!”
Xu Sheng glared fiercely at the few elders.
The latter, with ashen faces, did not dare to openly confront Xu Sheng and could only smile wryly with their heads lowered.
Suddenly, one of them said, “Master, it’s not that we wanted it to be this way, it’s just that…”
Another person immediately stopped him: “This matter is not to be mentioned!”
In a corner, an old woman’s figure slowly became visible, it was Wanyun Sect’s Elder Linghua.
She looked at Xu Sheng, who clearly paused, then chuckled bitterly, “Great, Linghua, you’re here to watch this old man become a laughingstock, too.”
Elder Linghua sighed, “Who asked you to be the most stubborn, leading a sect to become .”
“What are you standing there for, hurry up and pay your respects!”
Xu Sheng waved his hand, giving a brief introduction:
“This is a Golden Immortal of Wanyun Sect, a famed warrior on the Human Race’s list of military achievements.”
The immortals hurriedly saluted.
Elder Linghua merely nodded in return.
Then, looking at Xu Sheng, she said slowly:
“Your son, Xuntian Xu, has been mingling among the immortals of Forge-Heaven Gate.
I have just divined and, today’s situation, is but a trap that Xuntian Xu set for you.”
After speaking, Elder Linghua’s figure gradually faded away.
Xu Sheng clearly paused, his eyes brimming with tears.
He stood up, intent on going after that good-for-nothing he hadn’t seen in a thousand years, but as he was about to step out, he seemed to lose all strength and shakily sat back down.
The two middle-aged looking elders sighed, bowed, and retired to one side.
Most of the elders fell into silence.
However, the Current Sect Leader, the Daoist Lin Yuan, immediately stood up.
Without waiting for Xu Sheng to speak to stop him, he rushed out of the barrier of immortal power, a longsword flashing with cold light in his hand, his face showing anger as he bellowed:
You’ve wronged me deeply!”
The assembled immortals within the hall, and the loose cultivators outside, all looked on in shock.